Celebrating the big 3-4 for #71 with pictures of Evgeni Malkin and various animals

In a year unlike any other, 2020 has to be a birthday unlike any other for Evgeni Malkin. He marked the occasion on instagram with a caption according to Google Translate that says “Grew big”. Indeed.

I think some of the best and most wholesome things on the internet are pictures of Evgeni Malkin and animals — and my goodness he has had his share of run ins — so let’s get to it.

Here’s Geno with a penguin in 2015 with a friend of his:

Here’s Evgeni exploring underwater to find a big ass whale shark looking creature in the summer of 2014. Luckily no one was eaten during this adventure.

Young Gene and a lion? Well, young Gene and a lion.

A prolific angler, Malkin often posts offseason pictures of some of his best catches to his social media.

An overly friendly looking goat!

More GOATs!

Exotic looking birds!

A dolphin

Trying to get away from a vicious camel attack!

Puppies in the locker room for a photo shoot.

While delivering season tickets to fans’ houses back in 2011, Malkin notices a cat, asks what his name is and then greets him (in what I find to be just the funniest and best thing ever).

What a ride it’s been for Malkin and the Penguins with another great opportunity to play this summer. Age was nothing but a number for Malkin to put up 74 points in 55 games this season, and the big kid is still feeling young.