Jeff Malott Bio
Jeffrey Turner Malott is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, he skates with size and reach that translate well to a power-forward role. He previously played college ice hockey for Cornell University. Born on August 7, 1996, in Burlington, Ontario, Malott turned professional in 2021 and has since worked his way up through the American Hockey League before earning his place in the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Jeffrey Turner Malott was born on August 7, 1996, in Burlington, Ontario, to Murray and Anne Malott. He was raised in Waterdown, Ontario, just outside of Hamilton, where he grew up playing ice hockey, soccer, and basketball. That blend of sports helped build the athletic base that would later support his physical style on the ice.
He began playing junior ice hockey with the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2013–14 season. Malott scored 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 48 regular-season games that year. The Corvairs captured the Sutherland Cup Championship, with Malott adding seven goals and 11 assists in 26 postseason games.
From Caledonia, Malott spent two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Brooks Bandits. During the 2015–16 season, serving as an alternate captain, he scored 25 goals and 60 points in 46 games. He helped the Bandits win the AJHL championship and qualify for the RBC Cup, cementing his status as a top collegiate recruit.
Path to Hockey
Malott committed to play college ice hockey for Cornell University in September 2015 and matriculated for the 2016–17 season. 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. His first three collegiate goals all came on the same day, when he scored a hat-trick against Princeton on January 13, becoming the first Cornell freshman to record a hat-trick since Matt Moulson in 2003. He finished that freshman year with a team-leading six goals and nine points in 30 games.
Across his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons at Cornell, Malott grew into one of the program’s most reliable forwards. He was named one of three captains for the 2019–20 season. Cornell was the last team in the United States to remain undefeated that year when they beat Harvard 3–1 on December 6, with Malott scoring the opening goal to move the Big Red to 10–0. He finished his senior season with six goals and 13 points in 39 games, was a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward award, and posted a +15 plus-minus rating as the only college hockey player in the country who was never on the ice for a full strength goal against his team.
Jeff Malott Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
On April 8, 2020, Malott signed a professional contract with the Manitoba Moose, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. He was the first Cornell player from his graduating class to sign a professional ice hockey contract. He was unable to play for the Moose at the end of their 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and instead began his professional career with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in January 2021 to prepare for the AHL.
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. He added 20 points and 35 penalty minutes in 34 games.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2021–2024)
On May 31, 2021, the Jets signed Malott to a one-year, two-way contract worth $780,000 for the 2021–22 season. He built his game with the Moose and produced 32 goals and 48 points since his professional debut. On February 28, 2022, Malott went viral when he won a shootout against the Chicago Wolves and then skated off the ice without celebrating the victory.
Malott was promoted to the Jets on March 20, 2022. He made his NHL debut that night in the Jets’ 6–4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, recording three hits in just over four minutes of ice time. He was reassigned to the Moose the following day as he continued his development between the NHL and AHL levels.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2024–Present)
As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Jets, Malott signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2024. He joined a Kings organization that has built a strong track record of developing depth forwards into dependable NHL contributors.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Malott has continued to add physical play and a responsible two-way element to the forward group. His combination of size, skating, and defensive detail has earned him a regular look in the lineup.
Driving Style and Strengths
Malott plays a north-south power-forward style, using his 6-foot-3 frame to win battles along the boards and protect pucks in the offensive zone. He is valued for his penalty-killing detail and his willingness to play a straight-line, physical game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights include his first NHL game on March 20, 2022, against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the viral shootout win against the Chicago Wolves earlier that season. He was also the first player from his Cornell graduating class to sign a professional contract and the only college hockey player in the country to never be on the ice for a full strength goal against during his senior year.
Jeff Malott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Malott was raised by his parents, Murray and Anne Malott, in Waterdown, Ontario. His older brother, Mike Malott, is a mixed martial arts fighter and coach who joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February 2022, giving the family a notable presence in professional sports.
Personal Life
Malott is a Canadian national who was born in Burlington, Ontario, and grew up in nearby Waterdown. He has kept most of his personal life private, focusing public attention on his professional hockey career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Malott’s second year under his two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings. He entered the campaign looking to build on a steady first season with the organization, continuing to offer size, defensive responsibility, and bottom-six scoring punch. The Kings have leaned on his penalty-killing presence and physicality as they push for a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Malott’s role within the Kings’ forward group centers on matchups against opposing teams’ top lines and providing energy in protected situations. His combination of penalty-killing detail and offensive touch has made him a trusted option for the coaching staff in tight games.
Looking ahead, Malott remains under contract with the Kings through the 2025–26 season. His blend of size, two-way play, and special-teams value positions him as a steady contributor in Los Angeles’ depth chart for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.