Get to Know Ducks’ New Forward Jeff Malott

At the start of NHL Free Agency, the Anaheim Ducks made a handful of acquisitions to their squad, including 29-year-old winger Jeff Malott. He was signed to a three-year contract and joins the team from the Los Angeles Kings. Let’s take a look at the forward’s career and where he will fit in on the Ducks.

College Career

Malott started his adult hockey career with Cornell University in the 2016-17 season. He stood out from the jump, his first collegiate goal led to a hat trick and he was subsequently named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week for the accomplishment. He finished his rookie season with six goals and nine points in 30 games.

He had a successful sophomore season, as well. He scored in the season opener and ultimately finished the season with six goals and 17 points in 28 games. He was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team for his academic performance off the ice, too. Despite starting and ending his junior season with injuries, Malott still managed an impressive 14 points in 27 games, 12 of those points coming across the final 16 games of the season.

In his senior season, he was named one of three team captains and was named as a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward. He posted 13 points in 39 games and was the only collegiate player in the country who was not on the ice for a goal against their team. He finished with a plus-15 rating.

Professional Career

In 2020, Malott signed a contract with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Manitoba Moose, an affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. He played with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades in 2021 to prepare for the AHL. He shone brightly with the Moose, totaling 14 goals and 20 points. His goals total led the team and was the second-highest performance among AHL rookies.

In 2021, the Jets signed him to a two-way contract. He played just one game at the NHL level and did not register any points. However, in Manitoba, he accumulated 137 points in 203 games across three seasons. In 2024, as a free agent, Malott signed a two-year contract with the Kings.

He spent his first season in the Kings’ organization mainly playing in the AHL, serving as an alternate captain for the Ontario Reign. He had 23 goals and 28 assists in 61 Reign games. The forward played 12 games with the Kings that season, notching one assist. In 2025-26, he joined the NHL full-time, playing 58 games and totaling nine points. He ranked second on the team with 166 hits.

Malott on the Ducks

Malott is a 6-foot-5, 205 pound bottom-six forward. His size, defensive-mindedness, and physicality will be assets on the Ducks’ fourth line, especially with the departure of Ross Johnston and Jeffrey Viel. Supported by more offensively skilled players and a well-rounded coaching system, Johnston and Viel were able to reach career-high numbers in goals and assists during their tenures with the team.

Malott could play a similar role and, hopefully, see comparable results if he can easily and quickly adapt to head coach Joel Quenneville’s system and mesh with the team. He will likely be linemates with players such as young forward Tim Washe or newcomer AJ Greer, who also bring depth and physical defense to the forward core.

He is yet another piece of the puzzle for the Ducks as their roster takes shape this offseason. He joins AJ Greer and Nick Jensen as one of the three players who were signed at the start of free agency, and he will be a bottom-six forward to keep an eye on as the season gets underway in the fall.