Malkin staying in Russia

[Beaner]

from tsn.ca

According to a release on the Metallurg Magnitogorsk website, Russian centre Evgeni Malkin has signed a new contract and will play in Russia for the 2006-2007 season.

Widely regarded as the top prospect outside the NHL, Malkin was drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004.

The 20 year-old did have a contract with Magnitogorsk that ran through 2008, but that has reportedly been replaced by this new one-year deal, after which Malkin will become a free agent and presumably able to sign with the Penguins.

There has been no shortage of drama since Malkin decided to stay in Russia last season. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Malkin has just fired agent Don Meehan and returned to Pat Brisson and J.P. Barry, who had represented Malkin before he left in June to join Meehan.

Since the Russians decided not to honour the International Ice Hockey Federation's latest transfer agreement with the National Hockey League, there have been complications for NHL teams trying to bring over their Russian prospects, none more prominent than the Penguins with Malkin.

[SectionNDeserter]

Magnitogorsk.... Pittsburgh.... either way he is going to be on a team largely comprised of sub-nhl players. Only difference between the two is he might make a few hundred thousand more with Pittsburgh this year, and with Magnitorgorsk, he actually has a chance of not finishing in last place.

[Scout]

Although his actions might indicate otherwise, Evgeni Malkin is anxious to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins.


Evgeni Malkin led Russian super club Metallurg Magnitogorsk with 47 points in 46 games last season.
(Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
The 20-year-old Russian forward has reworked his contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in favour of a one-year deal, the Russian super club reported Monday on its website.

Malkin, drafted second overall in 2004 by Pittsburgh, had two years left on his deal with Metallurg. His new contract means he will become a free agent and will be free to join the Penguins in 2007.

But even though the Russian sniper is contracted to Metallurg, Malkin's agent, JP Barry, told the Associated Press in a telephone interview that Malkin indicated to him he wants to play in the NHL this season.

Malkin also has been quoted in Russia as saying he wants to play in Pittsburgh soon.

"His wish is to play in the NHL, and in Pittsburgh," Barry said. "We will continue to talk to him about his future, and we will decide the best course for him at this time."

Since Russia decided not to honour the International Ice Hockey Federation's latest transfer agreement with the NHL, it has become increasingly difficult for NHL teams to bring over their Russian prospects.

Top Russian clubs want to negotiate their own transfer fees for star players such as Malkin. Metallurg is believed to want $2 million US or more for Malkin's rights.

Under the old agreement, all of the Russian super league clubs would have to split a basic $200,000 US fee for Malkin.

Malkin led the Russian team with 47 points in 46 games last season.

The talented forward is considered one of the top prospects not playing in the NHL, and is part of a young Penguins core that includes Sidney Crosby and 2006 first-round pick Jordan Staal.

Malkin has been compared to NHL stars Mats Sundin and Vincent Lecavalier for his long reach and goal-scoring ability.

Scout

[SeventhHeaven4U]

It looks like Malkin may be pulling a Mogilny.... it appears he has left the team with his passport in hand. His agent can't be reached for comment. I don't have the link, but its in the SI.com site. I thought it was rather interesting his restaurant had a "jailhouse" theme to it... perhaps its a reference to being held unwillingly by the Russian team when he wants to so badly play for the Pens. I can't wait to see him in a Pens uniform and competing with/against Crosby n Ovechkin!!!

[nivek_wahs]

from tsn.ca http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=174058&hubname=

Report: Malkin leaves Russian Club

TSN.ca Staff
8/12/2006 4:34:54 PM

It appears the future of Evgeni Malkin has taken another bizarre twist.

According to Reuters, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass is reporting that Malkin has left his Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk during training camp in Finland.

Malkin, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins second overall in 2004 behind Alexander Ovechkin, reportedly disappeared, taking his belongings and passport with him. Earlier this week, the Russian star reworked his two-year contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk and agreed to a new one-year deal.

Malkin has made no secret of his wishes to play with the Penguins in the National Hockey League. But the Russian Ice Hockey Federation has yet to sign a transfer deal with the NHL and Malkin has found himself in the middle of the impasse.

The previous transfer agreement would have seen Metallurg Magnitogorsk receive just $200,000 in exchange for Malkin.

There has been no shortage of drama since Malkin decided to stay in Russia last season. J.P. Barry has confirmed to TSN that he and Pat Brisson have taken over the hockey management side of IMG, whom Malkin fired in June, and Malkin has left Don Meehan and returned to be represented by Barry and Brisson.

"His wish is to play in the NHL, and in Pittsburgh," Barry told the AP. "We will continue to talk to him about his future, and we will decide the best course for him at this time."

A premier offensive talent, Malkin led Magnitogork with 47 points in 46 games last season. The 6-foot-3 pivot was expected, along with phenom Sidney Crosby, to give the Penguins an elite one-two punch down the middle.

[nivek_wahs]

From sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/artic...12_185933_5560

Malkin goes AWOL from team

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Evgeni Malkin, the star forward and Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick who has said repeatedly he wants to play in the NHL, left his Russian pro team during a training camp in Finland on Saturday, various Russian news services reported.

It was uncertain whether Malkin bolted from the team in an attempt to get to North America and play for the Penguins this season, but the Itar-Tass news agency, citing a source within the club, reported Malkin took his belongings and passport with him.

Malkin's departure from Metallurg Magnitogorsk of Russia's Super League would be yet another unexpected turn in an ever-changing story in which the Olympics star renegotiated his Russian contract from two seasons to one season last week, at the same time his North American-based agents were saying he wants to play in the NHL as soon as possible.

Malkin's agent, JP Barry, didn't immediately return a phone message. Penguins spokesman Tom McMillan said the club had no comment on the report.

In another curious twist, the Russian daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reported last week that Malkin recently opened a new restaurant in Metallurg designed to resemble a Russian jail, complete with bars on the windows, aluminum forks, waitresses in striped prison garb and portraits of Soviet dictators. Malkin was quoted as saying he wanted to open similar restaurants in other Russian cities.

Malkin was the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft behind last year's NHL rookie of the year, fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. But he did not play in the NHL last season because the league lacked a transfer agreement with the Russian ice hockey federation.

This spring, it appeared Russia would go along with a transfer agreement already reached with the main European ice hockey federations and the International Ice Hockey Federation calling for a $200,000 US transfer fee paid to each country when one of its players left for the NHL. But, apparently because the Mettalurg team felt Malkin's rights were worth 10 times that amount, Russia has not signed the agreement.

However, Malkin's former agent, Don Meehan, said Russian law allowed Malkin to leave his team -- despite having a signed contract -- merely by submitting a letter of resignation. Malkin, under heavy pressure to stay with his Russian team, presumably may have renegotiated his contract last weekend merely to buy time before deciding the best course to get to the NHL this season.

Barry told The Associated Press last week that, despite Russian news agency reports of the reworked contract, Malkin had every intention of trying to play for the Penguins soon. Barry and Pat Brisson were Malkin's agents until June, when Meehan took over, but have since been rehired by Malkin. They did not play any role in his Russian contract talks.

The six-foot-three Malkin is widely regarded in hockey circles as being the best player in the world not playing in the NHL. The Penguins badly want Malkin to join a youthful team that already includes Sidney Crosby, who had 102 points last season as an 18-year-old rookie, and Jordan Staal, the No. 2 pick in the recent NHL draft.

Malkin led Metallurg with 47 points, including 21 goals, in 46 games last season. He had two goals and four assists for Russia in the Turin Olympics.

If Malkin is attempting to defect while in Finland, he would be the best-known hockey player to do so since Alexander Mogilny left the Soviet Union team following the world junior championships in Sweden in 1989 and defected to the United States, so he could play for the Buffalo Sabres.

If Malkin does intend to play for the Penguins this season, his contract negotiations likely would go quickly. Under the NHL labour agreement, he would make slightly less than $1 million in salary, plus bonuses that would be negotiated with the team.

[Beaner]

and the plot thickens...

from, www.tsn.ca

TSN.ca Staff

8/13/2006 11:16:24 AM

With star player Evgeni Malkin absent without leave, his Russian team will reportedly look for compensation through the courts.

According to Reuters, Russian Superleague hockey club Metallurg Magnitogorsk will go through the legal route to get compensation for the loss of Malkin.

"The players, coaching staff are very upset because for four days Malkin was training with the team and suddenly he is gone without saying a word to anyone," club head Gennady Velichkin told Reuters on Sunday.

Malkin, who was drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004, was with the team in Finland for training camp when he disappeared with his belongings and passport on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Russian player had signed a deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk that would have kept him in Russia until April 2008. However last week, he signed a new one-year deal with the team that would allow him to become a free agent and suit up with the Penguins in 2007-08.

Velichkin accused Malkin's agents and the Penguins of stealing his star player, who has made it clear that he wants to play in the NHL.

"His wish is to play in the NHL, and in Pittsburgh," Malkin's agent J.P. Barry said. "We will continue to talk to him about his future, and we will decide the best course for him at this time."

[SectionNDeserter]

Ha ha, I think it is funny that they don't even know where he is, and they are talking about pursuing litigation for compensation for him. Maybe he moved to New Zeland and bought a sheep farm?

[nivek_wahs]

from sportsnet.ca

Malkin case headed for court
August 13, 2006

Sportsnet.ca --The head of Russian team Metallurg Magnitogorsk told Reuters the club will take the Pittsburgh Penguins to court over the disappearance of the young Russian star.

"We're all in shock," Gennady Velichkin told the wire service.

Last week the Russian club announced that they had come to terms on a new one-year deal with Malkin which would allow Pittsburgh's number one pick in 2004 to leave Metallurg after next season. That annuled Malkin's old contract which would have kept him in Russia for two more seasons.

Velichkin said Malkin's American agents and his NHL club are to blame for Malkin's defection.

"They all like to talk about democracy, the American way and then they shamelessly steal our best players. This is pure sports terrorism," the Metallurg general director told Reuters.

The last paragraph is insane... terrorism? That's brutal.

[Kristi]

Where in the World Is Evgeni Malkin?
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer
56 minutes ago

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't saying where Russian star Evgeni Malkin is, or when they expect to see him. What they do know is he isn't in Russia and, as far as they are concerned, that's very good news.

The Malkin mystery continued Monday as the 20-year-old star remained out of sight after bolting from his Russian Super League team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, on Saturday after it arrived for training camp in Helsinki, Finland.

Malkin left with his belongings and passport and, possibly, a Canadian visa. Malkin's former Russian agent, Sergei Isakov, told the Soviet Sport newspaper Malkin had the visa before leaving for Finland. Malkin's North American agents, JP Barry and Pat Brisson, would not confirm that or say where Malkin is, though they believe he is out of harm's way.

"I can tell you I think he is safe, but I cannot comment on anything else," Brisson told The Associated Press.

Penguins vice president Tom McMillan said the team had no comment on any issue regarding Malkin, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 draft and the player widely considered the best in the world not currently playing in the NHL.

That could change by early next month, when Malkin _ now that he is out of Russia _ is expected to sign with the Penguins, if he hasn't already done so, and report to their rookie camp.

Malkin, along with 19-year-old star Sidney Crosby, would immediately give the Penguins one of the best 1-2 center combinations in the NHL and would likely hasten their rebuilding effort following four consecutive last-place finishes.

Only last week, Malkin renegotiated his contract with Mettalurg to trim it to a one-year deal, covering this season, from the two seasons remaining on his former contract. However, Russian law apparently allows any employee to leave a job, even while under contract, by giving two weeks' notice.

Malkin stayed in Russia last season after the country's hockey federation refused to sign a transfer agreement allowing its players to leave for the NHL in return for a $200,000 payment. The Mettalurg team said Malkin's rights were worth far more than that, and it wanted a settlement in the millions of dollars.

Mettalurg, for whom Malkin's father, Vladimir, once played, immediately threatened to sue the Penguins after Malkin abandoned them. However, former Russian stars Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) and Nikolai Zherdev (Columbus Blue Jackets) left their teams in recent seasons for the NHL, and their Russian teams were unable to successfully sue for compensation.

"We all are really shocked by his departure and we will take legal actions against the NHL club Penguins from Pittsburgh," Metallurg general director Gennady Velichkin told Itar-Tass news agency. "Americans like to speak about democracy and teach the whole world how to live but engage in sport terrorism and simply steal people."

In January, a U.S. District Court judge threw out a case against the Capitals brought by his former club, Moscow Dynamo.

Another issue is whether Malkin's contract contained a clause that allowed him to leave for the NHL. He said in interviews last spring his deal had such a provision.

Malkin's departure hardly was a surprise, new contract or not. He has given numerous interviews saying he wanted to play in the NHL, and recently said he was "95 percent sure" he would play in North America this season.

Malkin's parents were quoted by the Russian newspaper Pravda as saying they hadn't talked to their son and did not know where he was.

"My son simply snapped, his nerves did not hold on," Vladimir Malkin said in the interview. "In the last moment, they persuaded him to stay in Magnitka, though his mind was already in the NHL. I understand him, but I don't support him. It was a childish act. Before I give my final assessment, I need to talk to him personally."

Natalia Malkin, Evgeni's mother, told the newspaper she and her husband tried to call their son but his phone was turned off. She also said, "The management of Mettalurg played on his patriotic feelings. He was not able to refuse. Though, afterward, he told me, `Mom, they (the Penguins) have already been waiting for me, and I promised.' He left for camp in Finland very disgruntled."

Another question is whether the Penguins may have secretly signed Malkin _ his salary of slightly less than $1 million is already established by the NHL labor agreement_ before he agreed to the reworked contract with his Russian team.

Malkin switched agents in June, from Barry and Brisson to Don Meehan, but went back with Barry and Brisson within the last 10 days. There wasn't, or isn't, much room for negotiations by any agent since Malkin's salary is already established, other than performance bonuses any deal is bound to contain.