Denis Malgin
A swift, undersized Swiss center who carved out an NHL career with grit and skill before becoming a star back home in the Swiss National League.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Swiss ice hockey player·Birthday: January 18·Generation Z
Biography
Denis Malgin's hockey path is a story of adaptability and proving doubters wrong. Drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2015, the young Swiss forward faced immediate questions about whether his 5'9" frame could withstand the NHL's physical grind. He answered by showcasing a tenacious two-way game, quick hands, and a surprising scoring touch, bouncing between the Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs over several seasons. While he established himself as a reliable bottom-six forward in North America, his game truly flourished upon his return to Europe. Joining the ZSC Lions in Zurich, Malgin transformed into an offensive engine, using his NHL-honed speed and intelligence to dominate the Swiss league and become a focal point for the Swiss national team on the international stage.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Denis was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Denis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Denis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played over 200 regular-season games in the NHL for the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche.
- Won a Swiss National League championship with the ZSC Lions in the 2023-24 season.
- Represented Switzerland at multiple IIHF World Championships, serving as a key offensive contributor.
- Recorded a career-high 47 points in 50 games for ZSC Lions during the 2022-23 NL season.
- Scored his first NHL goal on his first shot in his debut game with the Florida Panthers in 2016.
Did You Know?
He was born in the town of Nowosibirsk, Russia, but moved to Switzerland as a young child and represents Switzerland internationally.
Malgin wears the number 62, an unusual choice in hockey, which he kept from his junior days in Switzerland.
He played alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner during his stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His younger brother, Valentin Malgin, is also a professional hockey player in Switzerland.
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