Mikhail Maltsev

Mikhail Grigorevich Maltsev (Михаил Григорьевич Мальцев; born 12 March 1998) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward for HC Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected 102nd overall in the fourth round by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has previously played for the Devils, and also for SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL.

KHL
Maltsev began his career with SKA Saint Petersburg's under-17 team in 2014. Maltsev then played with SKA-1946 of the Junior Hockey League (MHL) and SKA-Neva of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), both affiliates of SKA Saint Petersburg. In the 2017–18 season, he made his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut with SKA Saint Petersburg, and won the Continental Cup with the team after the regular season.

NHL
Maltsev was selected 102nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. On 13 May 2019, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils. Maltsev made his NHL debut on 31 January 2021, in the Devils' 5–3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. On 16 February, Maltsev scored his first NHL goal in the Devils' 5–2 win over the New York Rangers.

On 15 July 2021, Maltsev was traded, along with a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Ryan Graves.

Following two seasons within the Avalanche organization, Maltsev left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings on 1 July 2023. Maltsev was placed on waivers following training camp with the Kings, and assigned to continue his career in the AHL with affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Opening the 2023–24 season with the Reign, Maltsev in a top-six scoring role was amongst the team's offensive leaders with 4 goals and 14 points through 21 regular season games. Unable to earn a recall to the NHL, Maltsev left North America on loan by the Kings to return to the KHL in joining HC Spartak Moscow for the remainder of the season on 11 December 2023. Maltsev completed the season with Spartak, posting 11 points through 16 regular season games and helped the club reach the Semi-finals in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.

With his contract with the Kings concluded, Maltsev was signed to a two-year contract extension to continue in the KHL with Spartak Moscow on 19 June 2024.

International play
Maltsev played for the Russian national junior team during the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.