In a bittersweet moment, the Edmonton Oilers have officially parted ways with veteran forward ,who has decided to retire from professional hockey. After a nine-year career that saw him play in the NHL and AHL, Malone’s decision to hang up his skates was expected following hints in April that the 2023-24 season would be his last with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers’ AHL affiliate.
Malone, a fourth-round pick in the 2007 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, made his NHL debut during the 2011-12 season. Despite limited ice time in the NHL, where he appeared in 217 games with the Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, and Oilers, Malone left his mark as a reliable, hard-working player. Over his career, he registered 14 goals and 32 points and appeared in eight Stanley Cup playoff games, split between the 2014 Avalanche and the 2022 Oilers.
Though his NHL contributions were modest, Malone thrived in the AHL, where he played 552 regular-season games and 28 playoff contests. His leadership was especially evident during his tenure as captain of the Condors, where he set a career-high with 39 points in the 2021-22 season. One of his proudest achievements came in the 2020-21 season when the Condors won the Pacific Division championship during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a playoff series that replaced the traditional Calder Cup format.
As Malone closes the book on his career, he leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and leadership. His NHL numbers include four goals and nine points in 54 games with Colorado, nine goals and 21 points in 122 games for Carolina, and one goal and two points in 41 games with Edmonton. While playoff glory may have eluded him, Malone’s impact on his teams, particularly in the AHL, will be remembered for years to come.
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