Evgeni Malkin didn’t have anything to say Sunday.

The hat trick and assist he recorded in the Penguins’ 11-2 rout of the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena spoke volumes.

But Malkin was not available for comment after the game.

He hasn’t spoken with media for the better part of a month since his native Russia invaded Ukraine, beginning a war Feb 24.

The Penguins have declined repeated requests to speak with Malkin who once endorsed Russian president Vladimir Putin and joined the so-called “Putin Team” organized by Washington Capitals Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin in 2017.

Following Sunday’s game, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan addressed Malkin’s life off the ice.

“We’ve had open discussion with (Malkin) with respect to this,” Sullivan said. “He knows that he has the full support of being part of the Pittsburgh Penguins family. We’re all concerned for him. I can’t imagine what he’s going through. He has family living in Russia, a country that is at war right now in a real difficult circumstance. To no fault of his own, quite frankly.

“A lot of this stuff is bleeding into sports. Knowing (Malkin) the way I know him, he loves being a hockey player. He loves doing what he does. And he loves his family. So for sure, we have concern for him. We have had open dialogue with him with respect to this.”

What that dialogue entails remains behind closed doors. Malkin’s Instagram account, which is now private, included a photo of himself with Putin.

Few, if any, Russians, around the NHL have addressed the matter. Ovechkin held a press conference Feb. 25 in regards to the war.

“Well, he is my president,” Ovechkin said. “But … I am not in politics. I am an athlete, and, you know, how I said, I hope everything is going to be done soon. It’s hard situation right now for both sides and everything, like how I said, everything I hope is going to be end. I’m not in control of this situation.”

In 2017, when Malkin made his endorsement of Putin public, he spoke on the subject.

“We try to be together,” Malkin said. “It’s not like me or (Ovechkin) are right hand for Putin. We just try to support because 2018, we have World Cup in Russia. They have election, too. It’s a tough year. We want to be together and support him.”

Sullivan reiterated the franchise’s support of Malkin on Sunday.

“It’s a difficult circumstance for everyone,” Sullivan said. “I think we all feel the same way. What I will tell you is that the dialogue we’ve had with (Malkin) is that we want (Malkin) to know that he has our full support with respect to this circumstance. That he’s part of this Pittsburgh Penguins family. He’s not only a great person, he’s a great teammate. He’s a great Pittsburgh Penguin. He has our full support and his teammates’ as well. All of us has expressed our concern for him and his family through a real difficult circumstance through no fault of their own.”

Follow the Penguins all season long.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)