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Evgeni Malkin Defects, Targets Pittsburgh—Largest Since Mogilny

6/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Evgeni Malkin, 20, left Metallurg Magnitogorsk’s Finnish training camp secretly, taking his belongings and passport.
Because he and Metallurg annulled a contract that would have kept him through April 2008, his agent J.P. Barry said he wants to play for Pittsburgh and negotiations will continue.
The defection would be the biggest hockey defection since Alexander Mogilny left the Soviet team after the 1989 World Junior Championships.

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Story summary

Evgeni Malkin, 20, left Metallurg Magnitogorsk’s Finnish training camp secretly, taking his belongings and passport.
Because he and Metallurg annulled a contract that would have kept him through April 2008, his agent J.P. Barry said he wants to play for Pittsburgh and negotiations will continue.
The defection would be the biggest hockey defection since Alexander Mogilny left the Soviet team after the 1989 World Junior Championships.