Monsters Sign NHL Vet Manny Malhorta To PTO

CLEVELAND – In advance of a Thursday home game vs. the Iowa Wild, Cleveland’s Lake Erie Monsters signed veteran center Manny Malhotra, an 18th-year pro, to a professional tryout contract (PTO).

Selected by the New York Rangers with the seventh overall pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Malhotra tallied one goal, four points and 12 penalty minutes in 58 appearances for the Montreal Canadiens last season.

A 6’2”, 207 lb., left-handed native of Mississauga, Ontario, Malhotra, 35, posted 116 goals, 295 points and 451 penalty minutes in 991 career NHL appearances for the Rangers, Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal spanning parts of 16 seasons from 1998 to 2015. Malhotra led the NHL in faceoff percentage during the 2009-10 season and scored two goals in 35 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

In 48 career AHL appearances spanning parts of three seasons from 1999 to 2015 with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers, Malhotra accumulated six goals, 17 points, 88 penalty minutes and a +3 rating and helped Hartford claim the 2000 Calder Cup.

During the NHL lockout in 2004-05, Malhotra tallied five goals, seven points and 16 penalty minutes in 20 SHL appearances for HV71 and posted 13 goals, 27 points and 36 penalty minutes in 26 combined IEL and Slovenian-league appearances for Olimpija Ljubljana.

Prior to his professional career, Malhotra contributed 34 goals, 99 points, 59 penalty minutes and a +14 rating in 123 OHL appearances spanning parts of three seasons with the Guelph Storm from 1996 to 2000. Malhotra helped the Storm claim the 1998 OHL Championship and was named to the 1998 Memorial Cup All-Star Team.

Next up for the Monsters, it’s a Thursday night clash vs. Iowa with full coverage from The Q underway at 7:00 pm