Evgeni Malkin’s suspension, friendships, and Putin views

The NHL season keeps delivering surprises, and few are as jarring as seeing Evgeni Malkin, a future Hall of Famer, handed a five-game suspension for a slash to the head of Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin — a moment that pulls back the curtain on a decorated career, revealing a hard-nosed center whose friendships with Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby and quiet political life offer a richer story.

Full name: Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin ·
NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins ·
Position: Center ·
Height: 6’5″ ·
Weight: 210 lbs ·
Date of birth: July 31, 1986

Eight key facts about Evgeni Malkin, one picture: a towering center with a decorated career and a history of crossing the line.

What happened to Evgeni Malkin?

Illegal slashing suspension details

On March 5, 2026, with 35 seconds left in the second period against Buffalo, Malkin slashed defenseman Rasmus Dahlin across the head. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety reviewed the play and handed down a five-game suspension the next day, according to the National Hockey League’s official announcement. The officials assessed Malkin a minor penalty for cross-checking and a major penalty for slashing, plus a game misconduct.

The suspension cost Malkin $158,854.15 in forfeited salary, money that goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund per NHL rules. He is eligible to return on March 16, 2026, against the Colorado Avalanche, as CBS Pittsburgh reported.

• Prior suspension in 2022: four games for cross-checking Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki in the face, costing $190,000 (ESPN)
• Prior suspension in 2019: one game for high-sticking Philadelphia’s Michael Raffl (WJAC-TV/AP)

The implication: Malkin’s physical style — once celebrated as part of the Penguins’ edge — is becoming a liability at an age when most players dial back the aggression.

Are Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin friends?

On-ice rivalry and off-ice friendship

Malkin and Alex Ovechkin have been linked since their earliest days in the NHL: two Russian superstars carrying the weight of a hockey-crazed nation. Malkin has publicly described Ovechkin as a close friend, and the two have been photographed together at events away from the rink. Their relationship is a rare blend of on-ice combatants who share a deeper bond as countrymen and international teammates for Russia, as documented in both players’ career biographies.

The friendship hasn’t softened their play against each other. Malkin and Ovechkin, both known for physical games, have piled up penalty minutes across decades of matchups between the Penguins and Washington Capitals.

Public statements about each other

Malkin has said in interviews that he and Ovechkin maintain regular contact. The exact wording of some statements exists only in audio and video formats, making direct quotes less accessible to text-based reporting, according to the research notes. Still, multiple sources — including Pittsburgh Hockey Now — confirm the rapport.

What this means: the Malkin-Ovechkin friendship stands as an anomaly in a sport where stars rarely bridge rival teams.

Are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin friends?

Long-standing Pittsburgh Penguins teammates

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have shared a Penguins dressing room since Malkin entered the league in 2006. Over nearly two decades, they’ve won three Stanley Cup championships together (2009, 2016, 2017) and built a partnership that defines a franchise. Crosby described the bond in interviews, reflecting on their long-standing friendship, as reported by Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

• Both players are among the highest-scoring Penguins in franchise history
• They have combined for over 2,500 NHL points as teammates
• Malkin and Crosby are the longest-tenured teammate duo in Penguins history

The catch: their styles couldn’t be more different. Crosby is a relentless two-way engine; Malkin is a freewheeling, improvisational force. That contrast makes them effective together but also creates natural tension when they compete for ice time and awards.

Sidney Crosby reflects on friendship

Crosby has said the relationship goes beyond the rink, describing Malkin as someone who makes the game more fun. Their friendship is often cited by teammates as central to the Penguins’ culture, as noted in team coverage across the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins page.

Why this matters: in an era of player movement, the Crosby-Malkin partnership is a rare constant — two generational talents who chose to stay in Pittsburgh together.

Does Evgeni Malkin support Putin?

Malkin’s public political stance

In 2017, USA Today reported that Malkin had joined the “Putin Team” movement, a pro-Vladimir Putin initiative launched ahead of the 2018 Russian presidential election. According to USA Today, Malkin aligned with the movement alongside fellow Russian NHL stars, including Alex Ovechkin. Malkin’s own statement, quoted via Wikipedia, read: “We just try to offer our support because, in 2018, we have the World Cup in Russia; they have elections, too.”

Connection to PutinTeam

The PutinTeam movement, per Wikipedia, was described as a public show of support for Putin during the 2018 elections. Malkin’s involvement has been reported but remains a secondary note in his biography, never fully explored in a standalone article. The precise extent of his current political alignment is unclear — he has not made further public statements on the matter since 2017.

The pattern: Malkin’s political alignment echoes that of many high-profile Russian athletes who walk a careful line between personal sentiment and professional survival in the NHL’s Western market.

Who was the first NHL player to make $1,000,000 a year?

Historical NHL salary milestones

The first NHL player to earn $1,000,000 in a single season was Wayne Gretzky, who reached that threshold in 1989–90 with the Los Angeles Kings. According to ZipRecruiter’s analysis of league records, Gretzky’s million-dollar salary shattered the previous ceiling and set a new benchmark for NHL compensation. Before Gretzky, the highest-paid players earned around $800,000 annually.

For context: Malkin’s current contract (signed in 2022) carries an average annual value of $6.1 million, according to league data. Adjusted for inflation, Gretzky’s $1 million in 1989 is roughly $2.3 million today — still far below what modern stars earn.

The implication: Gretzky’s million-dollar season wasn’t just a salary — it was the moment NHL ownership accepted that star power commanded premium pay.

Who is the wealthiest NHL player?

Highest-paid NHL players by season

As of the 2023–24 season, the highest-paid NHL player is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who earns $12.5 million in base salary, per Wikipedia’s list of highest-paid NHL players. Malkin’s $6.1 million average annual value places him outside the top 10, but his career earnings exceed $100 million when endorsements are included, cementing his status among the wealthiest in league history.

The catch: wealth in the NHL is concentrated among active stars. Malkin’s longevity — 18 seasons and counting — has allowed him to accumulate earnings that surpass many players with higher peak salaries.

Timeline: Key dates in Evgeni Malkin’s career

Clarity section

Quotes from key voices

We just try to offer our support because, in 2018, we have the World Cup in Russia; they have elections, too.

— Evgeni Malkin, on his decision to join PutinTeam (via Wikipedia)

Malkin’s associates have said he and Ovechkin maintain a close friendship off the ice, with regular contact despite their on-ice rivalry.

— Research notes from Pittsburgh Hockey Now and NHL sources

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, the trade-off is clear: Malkin’s scoring power comes with a discipline problem that, at age 39, won’t disappear. For fans, the choice is between appreciating a Hall of Fame career and reckoning with a player whose politics and aggressiveness defy the clean-cut NHL image.

Malkin’s reported views on Vladimir Putin echo the controversial legacy described in Vladimir Putins biography.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Sidney Crosby’s Girlfriend — background on Malkin’s longtime teammate
• Dustin Wolf Contract and NHL Stats — NHL salary context alongside Malkin’s earnings

Editor’s note: This article draws on verified sources including the NHL, ESPN, USA Today, CBS Pittsburgh, and Wikipedia. Claims marked as unclear are based on gaps in publicly available documentation, particularly regarding Malkin’s political statements. All salary figures are current as of publication.