Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin has become the latest victim in a series of burglaries targeting professional athletes. Malkin's home was robbed while the Penguins were playing the Ottawa Senators, with the thieves making off with several valuable items, including his three Stanley Cup rings.

The incident occurred while Malkin was sidelined with an upper-body injury and did not play in the Penguins' 5-0 loss to the Senators. The team released a statement confirming the robbery and requesting privacy for Malkin during this time. Reports indicate that Malkin's home security system was deactivated at the time of the incident, and his safe was left open.

This burglary follows a concerning trend of organized criminal groups targeting high-profile athletes. The FBI recently warned professional sports leagues about South American crime rings using social media and surveillance techniques to identify opportune moments to strike. The NFL and NBA issued memos to their teams last November urging heightened security measures after several players, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Joe Burrow, had their homes burglarized.

The NBA has also seen a rise in similar incidents, with players like Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis experiencing break-ins. Luka Dončić also fell victim to a home burglary late last year. These incidents highlight the growing need for increased security awareness and vigilance among professional athletes.