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Penguins officially sign Malkin

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed 2004 first-round pick Evgeni Malkin to a contract on Tuesday.

The signing of Malkin culminates a bizarre turn of events that saw the 20- year-old sneak away from his Russian Super League team, the Metallurg Magnitogorsk, to join the Penguins.

The Penguins stated in August in a release on their team site that they were aware Malkin was in the United States and looked forward to signing the youngster when the time was appropriate, which apparently is now.

Malkin, the second overall pick in 2004, netted 21 goals with 26 assists for 47 points in 46 games with Metallurg during the 2005-06 season. He added five goals and 10 assists in 11 Russian Super League playoff contests.

The 6-foot-3, 192-pound center became the youngest player on Russia's 2006 Winter Olympics squad as a 19-year-old and had two goals and four assists in seven games.

The signing of Malkin bodes well for the Penguins' future. Combined with Sidney Crosby, the first overall selection of the 2005 draft, the duo gives the Penguins arguably one of the most talented 1-2 punches at center in the league. Crosby is just 19-years-old.

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