SPORTS

Pittsburgh Penguins sign $76M deal with forward Evgeni Malkin

The Canadian Press Published Thursday, June 13, 2013 9:38AM EDT

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma stands behind Evgeni Malkin in the first period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Bruins, in Pittsburgh on Monday, June 3, 2013. (AP / Gene J. Puskar)

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Evgeni Malkin to a US$76-million, eight-year contract extension Thursday, locking up the star forward through the 2021-'22 season.

The deal begins with the 2014-'15 season and has an average annual value of $9.5 million, the team said in a release.

Malkin, 26, won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer and Hart Trophy as league MVP last year after recording 109 points (50 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games. He had 33 points (9-24) in 31 games this past season and averaged over a point a game in the playoffs.

Malkin also won the Art Ross Trophy in 2009 and the Calder Trophy as top rookie in 2007. The four-time NHL all-star has 560 points in 458 career regular-season games.

The six-foot-three, 215-pound Russian helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009. He also earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as post-season MVP.

Malkin was drafted by the Penguins with the second overall pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

He has represented Russia many times on the international stage. The two-time Olympian was named tournament MVP of the 2012 world hockey championship and led his country to a gold medal.