Sam Malinski Bio
Sam Malinski (born July 27, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing roughly 190 pounds, he shoots right and has built his reputation as a smart, mobile blue-liner with offensive instincts. After going undrafted, he signed with the Avalanche out of Cornell University, where he had been an All-American and team captain.
Early Life and Background
Sam Malinski was born on July 27, 1998, in Lakeville, Minnesota, in the United States. He grew up in a hockey-friendly region of the upper Midwest, where youth rinks and high school programs are central to community life. That environment shaped his early development as a skater and puck-mover, and his pathway from local youth hockey to a top collegiate program began here.
Malinski attended Lakeville South High School, where he played high school hockey and graduated in 2017. He served as team captain during his senior season and helped the Cougars reach the Minnesota state tournament. His leadership and two-way play as a teenager foreshadowed the bigger role he would later assume at the next level.
Path to Professional Hockey
After high school, Malinski began his junior career with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL) before finishing his season with the Bismarck Bobcats. His offensive numbers jumped the following year, and in December he committed to play college hockey at Cornell University, one of the most tradition-rich programs in the country.
At Cornell, Malinski was part of a Big Red team that posted one of the strongest seasons in program history and was in position to compete for a national championship before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2019-20 postseason. He then sat out the entire 2020-21 campaign, a pause that slowed his development but did not derail it.
Sam Malinski Career
Cornell Years (2019-2023)
By the time Malinski returned to the ice in the fall of 2021, he had grown into one of Cornell’s leaders and its most productive defenseman. He led the team’s blue-line in scoring while the Big Red again played like a top-10 defensive program, despite the team eventually falling out of the playoff picture late in the year.
As a senior in 2022-23, Malinski served as team co-captain and helped Cornell reach the NCAA tournament. He was named to the second All-American team and finished third on the Big Red in points, and he was central to a 2-0 upset of Denver in the regional semifinal before the season ended with a 2-1 loss to Boston University in the regional final. His work at Cornell drew the attention of NHL scouts and front offices despite his going undrafted.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2023-Present)
On March 30, 2023, the Colorado Avalanche signed Malinski to a two-year, entry-level contract. He made his professional debut with the Avalanche’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on a professional try-out basis to close out that season. After his first NHL training camp, he began the 2023-24 season in the AHL before earning his first recall.
Malinski made his NHL debut on November 13, 2023, in a 5-1 road win over the Seattle Kraken. He picked up his first NHL point, a secondary assist on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, on December 7, 2023, in a 4-2 home loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and then scored his first NHL goal on December 13, 2023, in a 5-1 home victory over the Buffalo Sabres. He finished that split season with three goals and 10 points in 23 NHL games.
In 2024-25, Malinski earned a full-time spot on Colorado’s opening night roster and played 76 regular-season games as a third-pairing defenseman, recording five goals and 10 assists for 15 points, third among Avalanche defensemen in goals and tied for fourth in points. He made his playoff debut in the Western Conference first round against the Dallas Stars, appearing in five games and recording one assist.
Driving Style and Strengths
Malinski is a right-shot defenseman known for his skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive awareness from the blue-line. Coaches have leaned on him as a steady third-pairing presence who can move the puck, run a power play, and transition play out of the defensive zone. His calm decisions under pressure and his ability to contribute offensively have made him a natural fit for the Avalanche’s up-tempo system.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres on December 13, 2023, marked the start of his NHL scoring ledger, and his playoff debut in 2025 against Dallas confirmed his arrival as a full-time NHL player. He also reached a new contract milestone in 2025-26, when a strong first half led to a long-term commitment from Colorado.
Sam Malinski Career Wins
Sam Malinski’s win resume is built around team results at the NHL level and the milestones he has reached in his still-young career. He has skated in NHL regular-season wins across his first two full seasons with the Avalanche and has appeared in a playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
NHL Highlights
During the 2024-25 season, Malinski was a regular in the Colorado lineup and contributed to the Avalanche’s push into the Western Conference playoffs. His five-goal, 15-point output reflected his growing role on a contending team, and his five playoff games against Dallas represented his first taste of postseason hockey.
Sam Malinski Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed public information about Sam Malinski’s parents and broader family background is limited. He grew up in Lakeville, Minnesota, and has credited his family with supporting his move from high school hockey in Minnesota through the USHL and on to Cornell University.
Personal Life
Public records do not detail a spouse or children for Sam Malinski at this stage of his career. Most of his off-ice profile is tied to his collegiate background and his NHL team, and he keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 portion of the 2025-26 schedule, Malinski had already signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract extension as a restricted free agent on June 30, 2025. Strong play through the first half of the season, including career highs in assists and points, underlined his value to the Avalanche and set the stage for a longer commitment.
On January 27, 2026, Malinski signed a four-year contract extension worth $19 million with Colorado, a clear sign of the organization’s belief in his trajectory. He continued to play a regular role on the Avalanche blue-line, contributing offensively and helping the team push into the postseason.
During the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Malinski scored his first career playoff goal in Game 1 of Colorado’s second-round series against the Minnesota Wild, a milestone moment in his young NHL career. With a long-term deal in place and a featured role in the team’s defensive rotation, his outlook in Colorado is firmly upward.
