Pittsburgh Penguins Star Evgeni Malkin Invests in Esports Franchise Pittsburgh Knights

Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin has invested in the Pittsburgh Knights, an esports franchise backed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Malkin, a 33-year-old native of Russia, has played all 13 seasons of his NHL career with the Penguins. According to the Knights, he enjoys playing the popular video game Counter Strike: Global Offensive.

Rapper Wiz Khalifa is also an investor in the Knights. The organization fields professional teams in gaming titles such as Player Unknown’s Battleground, Super Smash Bros., Rocket League, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Madden. The Steelers partnered with the Knights through an investment made in the summer of 2018.

Another NHL player, Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyma, launched his own esports company last October.

Star athletes such as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rudy Gobert have also invested in companies across the esports industry.