Sharks Owner Gets Brutally Honest on Evgeni Malkin Tampering Saga

The San Jose Sharks’ billionaire owner, Hasso Plattner, has a reputation for being inconspicuous, but the billionaire has spoken up in a rare turn of events. Despite the Sharks’ underwhelming showing last season, the owner is far from disappointed in the team; Plattner continues to speak highly about the Sharks and is not enticed by the possibility of landing Gavin McKenna.

In the interview, Plattner addressed, among other things, the tampering allegations that had emerged surrounding Evgeni Malkin.

What’s San Jose Sharks’ Top Boss’ Take on Evgeni Malkin Tampering Drama?
Plattner may not want McKenna now, but he was once interested in the veteran Pittsburgh Penguins center, Malkin. An enduring presence in the Penguins’ lineup, the 39-year-old has accumulated 1351 points in 1215 regular-season games. Over his long and illustrious career, the forward has averaged more than 19 minutes on ice. In addition to three Stanley Cups, Malkin has two Art Ross trophies and several other accolades, including one Conn Smythe and Calder Memorial trophy.

The prospect of landing Malkin is bound to be attractive, and a few years ago, Plattner was outspoken about his interest in the forward to the extent that it was tantamount to tampering. In a raw moment during the interview with Sheng Peng of SJ Hockey Now, the billionaire owner of the San Jose outfit opened up about the tampering debacle.

Recounting the exact incident that led things to spiral downwards, Plattner shared how he casually proclaimed that, given the Sharks’ enhanced status at that point, even someone like Malkin would be interested in joining their ranks. “I gave a speech here, and I said, ‘So we are so strong now, that we should even be attractive to a Malkin.’ And ‘Ohhh!’ everybody said.”

His admission insinuates that the comment was perhaps not well thought through and casually made in the heat of the moment. Nonetheless, tampering is a serious issue in the league, and Plattner did not escape the adverse repercussions.

Moreover, the situation worsened considerably because Malkin was verging on free agency, making him more vulnerable to tampering. The Sharks’ billionaire owner faced the ire of the league, which reminded him of the obvious: tampering in the NHL is not permissible. “Six years ago, and there was, what is this term, called? Tampering. You should not be tampering, [the NHL] said. Malkin is a good player. I got a slap on my wrist, and that was it because he was becoming a free agent.”

Plattner’s interview offers a rare glimpse into the quiet billionaire’s perspective of his team. Despite the Sharks’ bottom-rank finish last season, Plattner remains hopeful, offering fans enough optimism to get through the 2025-26 season.