Malkin cares so much about this team, city and fanbase who welcomed him with open arms from the very beginning. During his interview for the 50th anniversary documentary, Pittsburgh is Home, Malkin was asked to name a favorite moment, goal or game.
“Of course, if you win the Stanley Cup, you say that,” Malkin said. “But I remember my first day and my first game in the NHL.
“I wake up, eat breakfast, short morning skate, and I remember when I’m in the locker room, I was very nervous. It’s my first NHL game, right after an injury. When I stepped onto the ice, I looked around at the fans, and everyone stood up and clapped. It was an amazing moment when they all supported me. I believe all the fans were waiting for me. … People love me, and people waited for me, and people support me. It’s an amazing moment.”
Their support has been unwavering ever since. When they chanted “GENO! GENO!” after he scored a hat trick the night he reached 1,400 points, it nearly brought Malkin to tears. He loves playing at PPG Paints Arena, and didn’t want to be anywhere else.
Here, Malkin went from being a wide-eyed teenager, adjusting to an unfamiliar culture and language, to a franchise player and a family man. All the while, Malkin has kept the same humor and heart that make his legacy so unique. Pittsburgh is where he grew up, and where his dreams have come true.
