| 24 January 2010
Photo from nbcolympics.com
Name: Ryan Malone
Birth Date: Dec 1, 1979
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Nickname: Bugsy, Taters, Ryry
With an average age of 26.5, Team USA is a young team. Although they are one of the underdogs heading into the Games, you can't really count them out. Brian Burke assembled a team that can compete at both a skill game and a physical game. Ryan Malone has both, and coming in at the age of 30, he also brings leadership. And tattoos.
Ryan Malone is a 30 year old LW that comes in at 6'4" and 220 lbs. He was drafted in the fourth round, 115th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted he played for the St. Cloud State University team for four seasons. In 2003-2004 Malone cracked the Penguin roster, played 81 games and finished 3rd on the team in scoring.
When it comes to Malone's time with the Pens, the ones who know it best are The Pensblog:
Ryan Malone is one of the bigger enigmas we ever got to watch in a Pens uniform. But by the time he left the Penguins he was a legit top-six forward in the NHL.
Malone's early career was full of potential. He actually led the Pens in scoring when he was a rookie. But that team was complete garbage so don't be fooled.
As Malone grew, so did the expectations. He struggled to meet those expectations, and he became the guy everyone wanted to trade. Malone finally found a linemate in 07-08 in Evgeni Malkin. He scored a career high 27 goals. In the playoffs he was sporadic, but still totaled 16 points. He may be best known for his heroics in Game 2 against the Senators in the Pens' playoff run.
In his first season with the Lightning, Malone was much of the same as he was in Pittsburgh with similar goals and assists. But this season he has been on fire. In only 51 games he has almost matched his goals/assists total from last season and he has scored a clutch goal more than once this year.
He has played for Team USA in the World Championships in 2004 and 2006, scoring 5 goals and 7 points in 16 games of his international career.
Malone brings another big body to the team that can stand in front of the net who can finish. He also bring his big hits to the team, which is of course one of the reasons Brian Burke has Malone on the team.
"I think if you look at the teams who might be at the top, like Canada, they also have big bodies there and momentum-changers," Malone said. "I think Burkie does a good job of making up a team that can compete at the skill game and the physical game and I think there are a lot of guys here who can do that. That makes us a dangerous team."
There is no question Malone has developed his scoring touch now. When you give him linemates that will feed off his play he is successful. Given his international play experience and some pretty good teamates, it is going to be really interesting to see what he is able to do. He could be a major X factor for team USA. -The Pensblog
Vancity Canuck writes about the Vancouver Canucks at Benched Whale and the Tampa Bay Lightning at The Hockey Bay Blog in addition to her work on Bloguin's Olympic Hockey Blog.
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