Jeffrey Turner Malott[1] (born August 7, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger playing for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played college ice hockey for Cornell University.

Jeff Malott
Malott with the Cornell Big Red in 2020
Born (1996-08-07) August 7, 1996 (age 28)
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Los Angeles Kings
Ontario Reign (AHL)
Winnipeg Jets
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Early life

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Malott was born on August 7, 1996, in Burlington, Ontario,[2] to Murray and Anne Malott.[1] He was raised in Waterdown, Ontario, just outside of Hamilton, and grew up playing ice hockey, soccer, and basketball.[3] He began playing junior ice hockey with the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2013–14 season, scoring 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 48 regular-season games. The Corvairs captured the Sutherland Cup Championship that season, with Malott adding seven goals and 11 assists in 26 postseason games.[4] The Corvairs also won the regular-season championship after the St. Catherines Falcons were docked two points for a rules violation.[5] From there, he spent two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) with the Brooks Bandits. During the 2015–16 season, Malott, who served as an alternate captain for the Bandits, scored 25 goals and 60 points in 46 games and helped his team win the AJHL championship and qualify for the RBC Cup.[6]

Playing career

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College

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Malott committed to play college ice hockey for Cornell University in September 2015,[7] matriculating for the 2016–17 season.[8] He picked up his first collegiate point on November 29, assisting on Eric Freschi's game-winning goal in Cornell's 3–2 win against Colgate University.[9] His first three goals all came on the same day, when Malott scored a hat-trick against Princeton on January 13. It was the first time that a Cornell freshman had scored a hat-trick since Matt Moulson did so in 2003, and Malott was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week for the feat.[10] He finished the season with a freshman-leading six goals, finishing with nine points in 30 games.[1]

Malott opened the 2017–18 season with a goal in Cornell's 5–1 victory over Alabama–Huntsville.[11] On November 11, Malott had a point in every goal of Cornell's 3–2 comeback victory over Harvard, with assists on the opening and game-winning goals and scoring the game-tier.[12] On December 30, he assisted on every goal of Kyle Betts's hat-trick against Canisius.[13] He finished his sophomore season with six goals and 17 points in 28 games and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.[1][14]

Malott missed three weeks of the 2018–19 season with an injury but returned on November 30 to score his first goal of his junior season.[15] He was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week on February 11 after scoring two goals in Cornell's 5–0 shutout win over Clarkson, followed by an assist the next night in their 3–1 victory over St. Lawrence.[16] In the ECAC Hockey Championship quarterfinals, Malott scored the final goal of the series to win the game 4–2 for Cornell over Union.[17] Malott was injured in the final game of the season, Cornell's 3–2 overtime loss to Clarkson in the ECAC Hockey Championship.[18] He scored six goals and 14 points in 27 games that season, with 12 of those points coming in his final 16 games.[1]

Malott was one of three captains that Cornell named for the 2019–20 season.[19] Cornell was the last team in the United States to remain undefeated in the 2019–20 season when they won 3–1 over the other undefeated team, Harvard, on December 6. Malott scored the first goal in Cornell's 3–1 win, moving the Big Red to 10–0 overall.[20] Their unbeaten streak ended there, however, as they lost 2–1 to Dartmouth the following day.[21] He finished his senior season with six goals and 13 points in 39 games.[1] Malott was a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward award, as he was the only college hockey player in the country who was never on the ice for a full strength goal against his team, giving him a 15 plus–minus rating.[22]

Professional

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Winnipeg Jets (2020–2024)

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On April 8, 2020, Malott signed a professional contract with the Manitoba Moose, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first Cornell player from his graduating class to sign a professional ice hockey contract.[23] He was unable to play for the Moose at the end of their 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[24] and he instead began his professional ice hockey career with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in January 2021 to prepare for the AHL.[25] In his first year with the Moose, Malott scored 14 goals, the most on the team and the second-highest of any AHL rookie that season.[26] He had 20 points and 35 penalty minutes in 34 games.[27]

On May 31, 2021, the Jets signed Malott to a one-year, two-way contract worth $780,000 for the 2021–22 season.[28] On February 28, 2022, Malott went viral when he won a shootout against the Chicago Wolves and proceeded to skate off the ice without celebrating the victory.[29] Malott was promoted to the Jets on March 20 after scoring 32 goals and 48 points with the Moose since his professional hockey debut.[30] Malott made his NHL debut that night for the Jets' 6–4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, recording three hits in just over four minutes of ice time.[31] He was reassigned to the Moose the following day.[32]

Los Angeles Kings (2024–present)

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As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Jets, Malott was signed to a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2024.[33]

Personal life

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Malott's older brother Mike Malott is a mixed martial arts fighter and coach who joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February 2022.[34]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Caledonia Corvairs GOJHL 48 15 19 34 29 14 4 5 9 38
2014–15 Brooks Bandits AJHL 53 6 14 20 88 20 2 2 4 10
2015–16 Brooks Bandits AJHL 46 25 35 60 70 13 4 8 12 6
2016–17 Cornell University ECAC 30 6 3 9 40
2017–18 Cornell University ECAC 28 6 11 17 56
2018–19 Cornell University ECAC 27 6 8 14 27
2019–20 Cornell University ECAC 29 6 7 13 12
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 34 14 6 20 35
2020–21 Florida Everblades ECHL 4 1 0 1 0
2021–22 Manitoba Moose AHL 62 23 18 41 55 5 1 0 1 0
2021–22 Winnipeg Jets NHL 1 0 0 0 2
2022–23 Manitoba Moose AHL 71 23 21 44 82 5 1 0 1 14
2023–24 Manitoba Moose AHL 70 22 30 52 66 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 1 0 0 0 2

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Jeff Malott – 2019–20 – Men's Ice Hockey". Cornell Big Red. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Jeff Malott Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Freshman Friday: Jeff Malott". Cornell Big Red. November 25, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  4. ^ "Jeff Malott Signs with Bandits". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Brooks Bandits. May 19, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  5. ^ Windle, Jim (February 26, 2014). "Rizzetto's revenge – Corvairs finish first". Two Row Times. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Former Bandit Jeff Malott invited to Flames development camp". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Brooks Bandits. June 30, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jeff Malott commits to Cornell University". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Brooks Bandits. September 19, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Men's Hockey Announces Five Additions to 2016–17 Roster". Cornell Big Red. July 11, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "McCarron's Power-Play Goals Propel Men's Hockey Past Colgate". Cornell Big Red. November 29, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Malott Earns ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week Accolade". Cornell Big Red. January 17, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Men's Hockey Debuts With Convincing 5–1 Win Over UAH". Cornell Big Red. October 27, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "McCrea's Late Winner Lifts #12/14 Men's Hockey Past Harvard". Cornell Big Red. November 11, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Betts' Hat Trick Powers #5/5 Men's Hockey's Past #20 Canisius". Cornell Big Red. December 30, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  14. ^ "Cornell Places 34 on ECAC Hockey All-Academic Teams". Cornell Big Red. July 10, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Late Surge Not Enough in #16 Men's Hockey's Loss at Dartmouth". Cornell Big Red. November 30, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Men's Hockey's Malott, Regush Earn ECAC Hockey Weekly Honors". Cornell Big Red. February 11, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "Three Unanswered Goals Give Men's Hockey 4–2 Win Over Union". Cornell Big Red. March 17, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Men's Hockey Dealt Bitter OT Loss In ECAC Hockey Title Game". Cornell Big Red. March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Men's Hockey Names Trio of Captains For 2019–20 Season". Cornell Big Red. September 11, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "#2 Men's Hockey Uses Quick Start To Down #12 Harvard, Move to 10–0". Cornell Big Red. December 6, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "#2 Men's Hockey's 10-Game Win Streak Halts With 2–1 Loss at Dartmouth". Cornell Big Red. December 7, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "Malott Among Finalists For ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward Honor". Cornell Big Red. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  23. ^ "Malott Signs Pro Deal With AHL's Manitoba Moose". Cornell Big Red. April 8, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  24. ^ "Forward Jeff Malott Joins the Blades". ECHL. Florida Everblades. December 28, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  25. ^ Jewell, Brendan (March 12, 2021). "Malott turning heads in first season with AHL Manitoba". Toronto Observer. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  26. ^ Hobson, Russ (May 31, 2021). "Winnipeg Jets sign Manitoba Moose forward Jeff Malott". Global News. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  27. ^ Friesen, Paul (June 1, 2021). "Jets Snapshots: Jets didn't handle breaks very well this season, and this one's way longer". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  28. ^ "Jets sign Jeff Malott to a one-year, two-way contract". National Hockey League. May 31, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  29. ^ Schroeder, Declan (February 28, 2022). "Moose's Malott Goes viral With Unique Celebration on Shootout Game-Winner". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  30. ^ Thomas, Jamie (March 20, 2022). "Thomas' Five Storylines – WPG @ CHI". National Hockey League. Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  31. ^ Miles, Bruce (March 20, 2022). "Jets score four straight before holding off Blackhawks". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  32. ^ Clinton, Mitchell (March 21, 2022). "Cheveldayoff reflects on busy trade deadline". National Hockey League. Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  33. ^ "LA Kings sign five to NHL contracts". Los Angeles Kings. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  34. ^ Davidson, Neil (February 7, 2022). "Burlington welterweight Mike Malott to make UFC debut in April at UFC 273". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
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