Jeff Malott Bio
Jeffrey Turner Malott, born on August 7, 1996, is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 201 pounds, Malott has built his career through a steady climb from junior hockey in Ontario to college stardom at Cornell University, and into the professional ranks with the Winnipeg Jets organization. After beginning his professional career in 2021, he signed with the Kings as a free agent in 2024 and continues to compete at the top level of North American hockey.
Early Life and Background
Jeff Malott was born on August 7, 1996, in Burlington, Ontario, to Murray and Anne Malott. He was raised in the Waterdown community of nearby Hamilton, Ontario, where he grew up playing several sports, including ice hockey, soccer, and basketball. His parents supported his early athletic development, and the local minor hockey programs in the region gave him his first regular exposure to organized competition.
Malott’s size and skating ability were noticeable from a young age, and he soon focused on ice hockey as his primary sport. He began his junior career with the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2013–14 season. In 48 regular-season games, he produced 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points, then added seven goals and 11 assists in 26 postseason contests as the Corvairs captured the Sutherland Cup Championship. The Corvairs also won the regular-season title that year after the St. Catharines Falcons were docked two points for a rules violation.
Path to Hockey
After his standout season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Malott moved west to play two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Brooks Bandits. Serving as an alternate captain during the 2015–16 campaign, he scored 25 goals and 60 points in 46 games and helped the Bandits win the AJHL championship and qualify for the RBC Cup national tournament. Those performances established him as a college prospect.
In September 2015, Malott committed to play college ice hockey at Cornell University, where he matriculated for the 2016–17 season. His development in Ithaca, New York, would shape him into the professional player he became. He played four seasons for the Big Red, gradually taking on larger roles and finishing his senior year as one of three team captains.
Jeff Malott Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Malott wasted little time making an impact at Cornell. He picked up his first collegiate point on November 29, assisting on the game-winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Colgate University. His first three goals all came on January 13, when he scored a hat trick against Princeton, becoming the first Cornell freshman to record a hat trick since Matt Moulson in 2003. That performance earned him ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week honors, and he finished his freshman year with a team-leading six goals and nine points in 30 games.
As a sophomore, Malott opened the 2017–18 season with a goal in Cornell’s 5–1 win over Alabama–Huntsville and was a steady contributor throughout the year. He finished with six goals and 17 points in 28 games and was recognized for his work in the classroom with a spot on the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team. An injury cost him three weeks of his junior season, but he returned strong and was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Week in February 2019 after a two-goal effort in a 5–0 win over Clarkson.
Cornell Breakthrough (2019–20)
Named one of three captains for the 2019–20 season, Malott helped lead Cornell to the longest undefeated start of any team in the United States that year. The Big Red ran their record to 10–0 with a 3–1 win over Harvard on December 6, 2019, with Malott scoring the opening goal. The streak ended the following day with a 2–1 loss to Dartmouth, but the campaign cemented Cornell as a national contender and highlighted Malott’s two-way game.
He finished his senior season with six goals and 13 points in 39 games and was a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward award. That season, 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 plus-15 rating. His four years at Cornell prepared him for the jump to professional hockey.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2020–2024)
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 player from his Cornell graduating class to sign a professional deal. Because the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the end of the 2019–20 AHL season, he instead began his professional career in January 2021 with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL to stay sharp for the AHL level.
Once he joined the Moose full-time, Malott scored 14 goals, the most on the team and the second-highest total among AHL rookies that season. On May 31, 2021, the Jets signed him to a one-year, two-way contract worth $780,000. He went viral on February 28, 2022, when he won a shootout against the Chicago Wolves and skated off the ice without celebrating. After totaling 32 goals and 48 points with the Moose, he was promoted to the Jets on March 20, 2022, and made his NHL debut that night in a 6–4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, recording three hits in just over four minutes of ice time before being reassigned the following day.
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. The deal runs through the 2025–26 season and reflects the organization’s belief in his size, skating, and two-way reliability. He joined a Kings team known for its structured defensive system and depth at the forward position.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Malott has continued to provide physical play and energy on the wing, fitting the profile of a hard-working bottom-six forward. His combination of height, reach, and shot-blocking instincts has made him a useful contributor in a depth role for the Kings.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the ice, Malott is best known for his defensive responsibility, heavy shot-blocking, and willingness to play along the walls. His 6-foot-3 frame and strong skating give him the tools to win board battles and kill penalties effectively, while his plus-15 plus-minus rating in his senior year at Cornell underlined his commitment to team defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Malott’s most viral moment came in February 2022, when his calm shootout win over the Chicago Wolves was followed by a muted celebration that captured widespread attention. He also became the first Cornell player from his graduating class to sign a professional contract, a milestone that reflected the pathway he had paved for future Big Red players.
Jeff Malott Career Wins
While Jeff Malott is not primarily known for goal-scoring totals at the NHL level, he has collected notable achievements throughout his career in junior, college, and minor professional hockey. His trophy case includes a Sutherland Cup Championship with the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs, an AJHL Championship with the Brooks Bandits, and a productive run as a senior captain at Cornell University.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
Malott’s first major win came in 2014, when the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs captured the Sutherland Cup. The following year with the Brooks Bandits, he helped the program win the AJHL championship and earn a spot at the RBC Cup. At Cornell, his greatest individual win was leading the Big Red to a 10–0 start as a senior captain in 2019–20, the last undefeated team in the United States that season.
Professional Performances
In his first full professional season with the Manitoba Moose, Malott led the team with 14 goals and ranked second among AHL rookies. His NHL debut win with the Winnipeg Jets on March 20, 2022, against the Chicago Blackhawks marked his first victory at the top level of professional hockey.
Jeff Malott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jeff Malott is the son of Murray and Anne Malott, who raised him in the Waterdown community of Hamilton, 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 across two different combat and competitive arenas.
Personal Life
Malott grew up in a supportive athletic household in southern Ontario, where multiple sports were part of family life. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status, and children have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 NHL season, Jeff Malott has settled into a depth role with the Los Angeles Kings, providing physical play, penalty killing, and energy on the wing. Under head coach Todd McLellan, and now under the current staff, the Kings have leaned on Malott’s size and shot-blocking ability to support a top-six group loaded with offensive talent. His work on the fourth line and within the penalty kill has made him a trusted option in tight games.
Statistically, Malott’s contributions are measured more by the underlying details of his game than by point totals. His willingness to block shots, finish checks, and win board battles has given the Kings a reliable checking-line presence, while his two-year contract has provided him stability to continue developing in Los Angeles.
Looking ahead, Malott’s role with the Kings through the end of his contract in 2026 will depend on his continued growth as a two-way forward. With his size, work ethic, and championship experience at multiple levels, he remains a useful bottom-six option for an organization that values structure and accountability as much as raw scoring.
