The ZSC Lions lose their figurehead Denis Malgin

In autumn, the ZSC Lions will inaugurate their new stadium: the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich-Altstetten. It will be the beginning of a new era, but ZSC will have to start it without their most important player: According to North American media reports, Denis Malgin has signed a new one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s a return for the Zurich native: in 2019/20 he played eight games for Toronto before he no longer played a role in management’s plans and switched to the National League: first to Lausanne, then to Zurich.

Malgin was the only Swiss in the top 10 of the scorer list

Malgin, 25, joined his training club ZSC in September, shortly before the start of the season. And then rose to become the most important individual player at breathtaking speed. In 48 qualifying games he scored 21 goals and 31 assists, he was the only Swiss in the top 10 of the scorer list. There was something irresistible about his performances in the league – and he also excelled at the World Cup in Helsinki, where he was the most productive player in a strong Swiss team. It’s no surprise that he’ll get another chance in the NHL after this season, it would have been strange if Malgin hadn’t been considered. Especially since it costs very little money by NHL standards and its development is not yet complete.

For ZSC, where Malgin would have been under contract until 2025, that doesn’t make the departure any less painful. A Swiss center of the Malgins class cannot be replaced on the market, especially not in mid-July, two months before the start of the season. And unlike the last two seasons, departures of players with ongoing NHL contracts cannot be compensated for with an additional alien license. After attacker Pius Suter in summer 2020 and defender Tim Berni in 2021, Malgin is the third ZSC regular player in three years to move to North America.

The ZSC has already issued five of the six available foreigner licenses. The two North American strikers Justin Azevedo and Garrett Roe are joined by a trio from the KHL: the Czech goalkeeper Simon Hrubec (31, Avangard Omsk), the Finnish goalkeeper World champion defender Mikko Lehtonen (28, Ska St. Petersburg) and Swedish center Lucas Wallmark (26, Zska Moscow). They are all top-class movers – just like Swiss national defender Dean Kukan (29, Columbus Blue Jackets), who is returning to his regular club after twelve years. The head of sport Sven Leuenberger sent a clear signal with the transfers, he has once again upgraded the Zurich luxury squad. And with good reason: After ZSC, under coach Rikard Grönborg, was the first team in history to lose a 3-0 lead in the play-off final and once again had to congratulate EV Zug, the pressure on the team didn’t decrease . The team has only won one title since 2015, the 2018 championship, a record that does not meet the very high standards of ZSC. Especially since the new arena with its 12,000 seats should be filled as often as possible.

The opening of the new ZSC stadium is scheduled for October 18th

Malgin’s departure is a major setback for the ambitious club. It should also be said that it cannot be ruled out that Malgin will suddenly be at the door again over the course of the winter. Competition in the Maple Leafs is fierce and for all his qualities, there is no guarantee Malgin will prevail. However, ZSC will have to plan without a strong center forward. The season begins for Zurich on September 14th with an away game in Rapperswil – the first of eight in a row at the start due to construction delays. The home premiere is scheduled for October 18 against Gottéron. Then someone other than Denis Malgin will have to take care of the music.