Evgeni Malkin is not only a leader on the ice but also a role model off it for his younger teammates—something he was recently praised for after taking his Russian-speaking teammates out to dinner.
For the past 20 years, Evgeni Malkin has been a cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Penguins. During his tenure with the team, the Penguins have won three Stanley Cups, and Malkin has recorded 1,386 points in 1,249 games. His accomplishments, talent and longevity have him on a clear path to the Hockey Hall of Fame when the time comes.
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Evgeni Malkin is a role model
Until then, Malkin—alongside longtime friends Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang—serves as a role model for younger players, setting standards in practice, game preparation, and everything that comes with playing in the NHL. Malkin has also made a point of spending extra time with the team’s Russian players.
On Sunday, the Penguins defeated the Vancouver Canucks. But the night before, Malkin surprised his Russian teammates by taking them out for dinner in Vancouver—an appreciated gesture.
Bought his teammates dinner
Speaking to Penguins team reporter Michelle Crechiolo, 25-year-old defenseman Ilya Solovyov had high praise for Malkin.
“It’s perfect. He’s like our father here. He tries to teach us everything. When we have Russians here, it’s good to have a group of guys who speak your own language. It has helped me a lot,” Solovyov said.
What a role model. You can watch the interview below.
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