EVGENI MALKIN, WHO was named the National Hockey League (NHL) Most Valuable Player last season, will play for Continental Hockey League (KHL) side Metalurg Magnitogorsk, the club announced Sunday.
The 26-year-old, who helped Russia win the world championship this year, will play in Magnitogorsk together with the 38-year-old veteran defender Sergei Gonchar.
“The contracts with Malkin and Gonchar were signed until the end of the 2012-13 season and fit all the demands for the contacts of the NHL players in case of a lockout,” Magnitogorsk official site announced.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins still possess the rights on Malkin in North America, while Gonchar has contract obligations with another NHL side, Ottawa Senators.
It is also reported that Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk has reached an agreement with KHL club Kazan, while New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk could play with Saint Petersburg this season.
I’ve no problem with the 23 players selected. I do have an issue with some of the logic applied by O’Neill. Keane and Arter are both injured. Keane is given tne benefit of the doubt, even with the proviso that he might not be available for the Sweden match and can’t play for 90 minutes. Arter is sent back to his club despite tne possibility of being fit in ten days and available for every match. Westwood is picked, rightly, but not played at all during the recent games. Doyle, fit, is told to stay at home and not bother travelling over for the Belarus match, even when it was known there is a question mark over Keane.
Delighted Paul McShane didn’t get a last minute invite. Looking forward to the games. COYBIG