The Colorado Avalanche are on the quest to repeat, something that has not been done since the Pittsburgh Penguins managed to capture the Cup in 2016 and 2017. Before that, the Detroit Red Wings managed the feat in 1997 and 1998.
Part of making a championship run is finding depth contributions. Sure, the core group – Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar – is going to do the heavy lifting but it will be the fringe contributors that wind up making the most critical contributions.
That is where Denis Malgin comes into play. The diminutive center has been a pleasant surprise for the Avalanche this season. Let’s take a closer look at how he got here, what he’s doing, and whether he can continue his path forward.
Denis Malgin you BEAUTY!#GoAvsGo
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 16, 2023
How Malgin Got Here
Malgin’s story is one of perseverance. Undersized – 5’9”, 175 – Malgin was a fourth-round pick of the Florida Panthers back in 2015. It would take just one full season before he would see significant NHL action, a total of 47 games with the Florida Panthers.
Malgin, despite being small, had all the tools to be a successful NHL player. Though he doesn’t possess burner speed, his skating ability is definitely a plus. Perhaps his best trait is his hockey IQ, allowing him to see the game in ways that many do not.
Malgin would see regular action with the Panthers over three seasons, posting career-highs in goals (11), assists (11), and points (22) during his first 51 games with the Panthers. But it wouldn’t be smooth sailing from there.
Malgin would be dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs and failed to find a groove. In 31 games with the Leafs, Malgin managed just a pair of goals and assists, not to mention a mountain of frustration.
☑️ First goal as an @Avalanche.
Denis Malgin looks really REALLY good in the burgundy and blue, don't you think? 🤩
📺: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/8dEx1ZgB1b #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/NTfXoFYObr
— NHL (@NHL) February 15, 2023
To the Avalanche
Malgin was then traded to Colorado back in December in exchange for left winger Dyden Hunt. No one on the Colorado side really knew what they were getting. Was this the small but smart and talented center everyone talked about or a player whose confidence was shot?
The potential became obvious. He even flashed a few slick moves but things weren’t quite right when he arrived. The Avs dealt with injuries throughout much of this season and Malgin was forced into a spotlight position right out of the gate.
Things didn’t look as though they were proving beneficial for the Avalanche. But sometimes all it takes is a change of circumstance to set things right. With the major pieces returning to the lineup, Malgin slid down the lineup into a position that fit his skill set.
Since then, Malgin has looked like a different player. In 25 games with the Avs, he has six goals and two assists. Those numbers might not blow you away but it is a marked improvement from where he was with Toronto and shows flashes of the player Florida thought they got.
The question is whether or not Malgin can continue to play at the level he has shown recently. He will never be counted on to carry the team like the aforementioned players have been, but can he continue to be the kind of impact depth player that teams like Colorado depend on?
We have acquired forward Denis Malgin from the Maple Leafs in exchange for Dryden Hunt. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/kMIZRwPdwt
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 19, 2022
What Does the Future Hold?
The difference for championship teams is its lesser parts. Think of the contributions that names like Andre Burakovsky made during the Stanley Cup run of a year ago. Sure, most people will talk about the stars but those role players make a bigger impact than many realize.
The good news is that it looks like Malgin can sustain his recent performance. Sure, he’s at the highest shooting percentage of his career which will likely regress to the mean at some point, even if it isn’t this season. That said, he has a solid Corsi at 56.35 percent. His expected goals of 11.35 is solid and would match his career-best in the least number of games he’s ever played.
He’s been called a mini-Burakovsky. And, much like Burakovsky, it can be streaky. He’s been hot lately, posting three goals in five games, but it looks like he’s found some chemistry with Matt Nieto and Alex Newhook.
His role is to play with speed and put the puck on the net. Knowing that he can count on his linemates and just play his game has proven to be a successful formula for Malgin. While it is difficult to project whether bottom-six players can continue to play at a high level, there is a lot to like about what Malgin offers to the Colorado lineup.
There is still a month of hockey to go, and the real test will be whether he can apply his brand of hockey when things are tighter. But for now, there is a lot to love about Malgin’s game and his contribution to the Avalanche.
Malgins Room.
Malgin 👊 #AvsTwitterPsychic pic.twitter.com/5PrYqYLFWF
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 15, 2023
Credits on Featured Image: Fabien Perissinotto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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