PITTSBURGH — Penguins center Evgeni Malkin’s home was burglarized over the weekend, Malkin and the team announced Tuesday. His three Stanley Cup rings are missing, he said.
“Yes, 2 days ago,” Malkin said of the situation in a text message to Athletics. Malkin said no one was home at the time of the break-in.
The Penguins said further details would not be released because an investigation is ongoing.
“We are working closely with local authorities and team security,” the Penguins said in a statement Tuesday evening. “Malkin has asked that his privacy be respected during this time and we will have no further comment on this matter.”
The burglary happened Saturday, according to KDKA-TV, which was first to report the news.
The Penguins played two home games this weekend at PPG Paints Arena – against the Ottawa Senators at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday and the Tampa Bay Lightning at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The Cup rings are from the Penguins’ 2009, 2016 and 2017 championship teams. Malkin was the leading playoff scorer on the 2009 and 2017 championship teams, and he won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 2009.
Malkin owns a home in Sewickley Heights, a borough in Allegheny County with a population of fewer than 900, according to the 2020 census. He has lived there for more than a decade.
The house is where his parents stay when they are in Pittsburgh visiting from Magnitogorsk, Russia, where Malkin was born. Malkin’s son, Nikita, also stays with his father in the house when he is in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation Tuesday.
Malkin also resides in Fisher Island, Florida, where Nikita and her mother, Anna Kasterova, usually spend most of their time during the NHL season. Malkin’s parents also have a house on Fisher Island.
Malkin, 38, played his entire NHL career with the Penguins. He returned from a four-game absence during the Penguins’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night.
The latest news comes amid a rash of break-ins at the homes of high-profile professional athletes in recent months, including reported break-ins at the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and quarterback Travis Kelce -Cincinnati Bengals guard Joe Burrow and Minnesota Timberwolves guard. Mike Conley Jr., Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr., Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin and Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Dončić.
Multiple reports in December indicated that the FBI had issued a warning to sports leagues about organized robbery groups targeting athletes’ homes. The NFL and NBA released safety briefs to teams in November.
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(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
