Kukla's Korner Hockey
Entries with the tag: KHL
Filatov On Loan To KHL Team
by Paul on 11/17/09 at 01:44 PM ET
Comments (6)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have loaned forward Nikita Filatov to CSKA (pronounced CHESH-ka) of the Kontinental Hockey League for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, General Manager Scott Howson announced today.
Filatov has appeared in 13 games with the Blue Jackets this season, scoring two goals and adding eight penalty minutes and an even plus/minus rating. He has tallied 6-0-6 and eight penalty minutes in 21 NHL games over the past two seasons.
“Nikita is a top prospect in our organization and we believe it is in the best interest of his development to play more and in all situations in the KHL,” said Howson. “We have agreed to his request to be assigned to CSKA and this should afford him the opportunity to continue to work and develop his game in his hometown of Moscow.”
added 2:37pm, Dmitry Chesnokov of PuckDaddy talks to Filatov,
What are the main reasons of your decision?
There is only one reason. I think this is better for my development to go back and play in Russia. There are more opportunities there to develop as a player and to really compete. At least at this time. CSKA can give me more right now than Columbus, to whom I am thankful. And all I need is to get playing time.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Nikita+Filatov,
The Latest On Nylander
by Paul on 11/13/09 at 05:20 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Capitals Insider,
The ever-changing Michael Nylander-to-the-KHL story may or may not be nearing its conclusion, with more information leaking out by the day…
According to a source close to CSKA, the two sides had almost agreed on a deal - until the Moscow club balked at one of the clauses proposed by Nylander’s agent. The clause, the source tells us, was Nylander’s ability to walk away to another team in the middle of the current season should he get a more lucrative offer. CSKA is reportedly dead set against it and insists on a standard binding contract through the end of the 2009-2010 season.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Michael+Nylander,
KHL/NHL Looking For Common Ground
by Paul on 11/12/09 at 06:54 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
I’ll believe it when I see it.
But for what’s it’s worth, Bettman, Daly and Medvedev did meet in a quiet room at Verizon Center in Washington before Wednesday night’s Islanders-Capitals game, and they even watched the first period together.
“It was constructive,” Bettman told ESPN.com on the phone from New York on Thursday. “It was good to see Alex again. Last time we had seen each other was in Rome a little over a year ago. We agreed that it would be good if we could find some areas of cooperation where we could work together, and we were going to see if we could begin that process by trying to find some common ground.”
Filed in: NHL Talk, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Esche Wants To Play For Team USA
by Paul on 10/21/09 at 01:24 PM ET
Comments (4)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
Colorado Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson is trying his best to put himself on the radar for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. A guy in Russia is hoping to do the same.
Robert Esche is off to a flying start with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, sporting an 8-3-2 record with a .932 save percentage and 1.62 goals-against average, gaudy numbers to say the least.
“I’ve been healthy the last three years here in Russia, which I wasn’t my last few years in the NHL,” Esche told ESPN.com on Tuesday from Moscow, where the team plays Wednesday. “I am hoping I can go to the Olympics, that’s my goal to make that team. But if it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Robert+Esche, Team+USA,
Another Medical Issue In The KHL
by Paul on 09/22/09 at 02:15 PM ET
Comments (2)
from Ken Campbell of The Hockey News,
Less than a year after the death of Alexei Cherepanov, the Kontinental League finds itself again at the center of a medical controversy, this one involving the younger brother of St. Louis Blues star Paul Kariya.
Martin Kariya, who plays for Dinamo Riga in the KHL, suffered a concussion Saturday night in a game in Moscow when he was hit from behind into the boards, then hit his head on the ice when he fell. But as was the case with Cherepanov, the KHL and medical personnel have come under criticism for how the situation was dealt from a medical standpoint.
According to reports, the medical staff for Dinamo responded immediately and was on the ice, but emergency personnel at the Moscow Spartak rink were apparently sitting in the stands and had to be called using the public address system. They took several minutes to arrive at the scene.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Martin+Kariya,
Rob Niedermayer May Be Playing In The KHL
by Paul on 09/17/09 at 01:56 PM ET
Comments (3)
via Darren Dreger of TSN,
Sources tell TSN Rob Niedermayer is in negotiations with the KHL’s (CSKA) Moscow Red Army and failing an NHL team surfacing with a suitable offer within the next few days, the veteran forward will sign a one year contract to play in Russia.
Sources say Niedermayer has received some interest from NHL teams, but none of the offers have been considered financially worthy.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Rob+Niedermayer,
IIHF Bans Hudler Fron Sanctioned Games
by Paul on 08/26/09 at 04:54 PM ET
Comments (17)
via David Staples of The Cult of Hockey,
Peter Adler, the Edmonton-based Euro-hockey expert, passes on these items . . .
The International Ice Hockey Federation is refusing to grant Jiri Hudler his transfer card, which means he is not allowed to practice or play for his new team, Moscow Dynamo, reports Sovietski Sport.
Without this card, Hudler can’t play in any IIHF-sanctioned game. The Russian league is under the domain of the IIHF, hence Hudler’s current problem.
The IIHF’s stance is baffling to Alexander Medvedev, chief of the KHL, because both the Detroit Red Wings, Hudler’s NHL team, and the Czech federation have given permission to Hudler to play for Dynamo, according to Medvedev.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 08/11/09 at 04:20 PM ET
Comments (2)
Looking ahead, if the Atlanta Thrashers don’t sign Ilya Kovalchuk by next summer, the KHL probably would offer to make him the highest-paid player on the planet.
Right now the KHL is inflicting pin pricks on the NHL, but if they ever landed a prime player such as Kovalchuk, it could turn the league into a foreign version of the World Hockey Association.
-Kevin Allen of Mucking & Grinding at USA TODAY. More on the KHL from Kevin…
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Zherdev Signs With KHL Team
by Paul on 08/11/09 at 10:09 AM ET
Comments (0)
via RDS (translated),
Nikolai Zherdev crossed the Atlantic in his turn. The former Rangers player would accept a new contract with the team Yulaev Salavat Ufa in the KHL.
added 4:57pm, from John Glennon of the Tennessean,
Hedges (zherdev’s agent) also said Monday that Zherdev – who’s three times in five years topped the 20-goal mark – was currently working out with a Russian team. But he also said Zherdev was still talking to a handful of NHL teams, and that Zherdev probably wouldn’t make any decisions until next week.
So when I saw the RDS report today, I followed up with an e-mail to Hedges, asking him to clarify the situation. His response from just over a half hour ago: ``(Zherdev) has not signed at this point.’’
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Nikolai+Zherdev,
Bill Daly On The Hudler/KHL Deal
by Paul on 07/30/09 at 05:34 PM ET
Comments (4)
from Craig Custance of the Sporting News,
In an e-mail to Sporting News Today, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote that Hudler lost his free agency rights when he elected salary arbitration on July 5.
“It continues to be our position that Hudler is contractually obligated to the Detroit Red Wings,” Daly wrote in an e-mail to SNT. “It’s just another example of the KHL having no regard for NHL contracts.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, NHL Talk, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Bill+Daly, Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
Zubov Signs With KHL Team
by Paul on 07/30/09 at 03:39 PM ET
Comments (4)
from TSN,
After a 16-year NHL career, Sergei Zubov is heading home as the 39-year old blueliner has signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Sergei+Zubov,
Putting The Hudler Story To Bed
by Paul on 07/22/09 at 05:02 PM ET
Comments (4)
from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
Wings general manager Ken Holland said today that the club will head to salary arbitration with forward Jiri Hudler on July 30 in Toronto. Hudler’s agent, Petr Svoboda, told Holland the 25-year-old left wing intends on playing in Russia next season.
“They have no intention of negotiating a settlement, they want the case heard before an arbitrator,’’ Holland said.
The NHL apparently will not be able to prevent Hudler from playing for Moscow Dynamo.
Hudler has made it clear he wants to play in the KHL, the Wings are not really fighting his decision so we can expect the end result, Hudler in the KHL and the Wings will add another forward by signing someone or making a trade.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
KHL Responds To Hudler Situation
by Paul on 07/16/09 at 11:53 AM ET
Comments (35)
from Jeff Z. Klein of SlapShot at the NY Times,
Is peace breaking out between the K.H.L. and N.H.L.?
In his first public statement on the international dispute over Detroit forward Jiří Hudler, K.H.L. president Alexander Medvedev sounded a conciliatory note, saying on Thursday that the Russian league would wait for an N.H.L. arbitrator’s decision on Hudler’s status with the Red Wings before registering the contract the player signed with Dinamo Moscow.
added 6:21pm, from George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press,
Holland said he spoke to Hudler’s agent today and the two sides plan to continue to talk over the next two weeks.
While Hudler’s actions suggest he no longer wants to play for the Wings, Holland said he would welcome him back into the fold and there would not be any animosity from management nor players toward Hudler.
“Jiri has tremendous respect for his teammates and the organization,” Holland said. “He was made an offer that, at this stage in his financial career, he couldn’t pass up. I don’t think it had anything to do with the hockey aspect. He was made a financial offer he couldn’t pass up.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
The Latest KHL/Hudler Talk
by Paul on 07/11/09 at 09:06 AM ET
Comments (23)
from Jeff Z. Klein of Slap Shot at the NY Times,
K.H.L. president Alexander Medvedev struck a conciliatory tone toward the N.H.L. in an article in the Russian daily Sport-Express on Saturday, but he seemed to be speaking before Friday afternoon’s revelation that the N.H.L. is disputing the signing of Detroit free agent Jiri Hudler by Dinamo Moscow.
In the same Saturday issue of Sport-Express, Hudler explained the main reason why he left Detroit for Moscow. “At Dinamo,” the 25-year-old Czech forward said, “I’ll get something that I was not getting with the Red Wings: a lot of playing time and the opportunity to become a leader.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
Not So Fast Jiri
by Paul on 07/10/09 at 10:54 AM ET
Comments (32)
from Darren Dreger of TSN,
Jiri Hudler remains property of the Detroit Red Wings and therefore the recent contract he signed in the KHL is being contested.
The National Hockey League has approached both the IIHF and KHL, seeking their intervention.
According to the NHL, Hudler is contractually obligated to the Red Wings for next season.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
Kwiatkowski Back To Russia
by Paul on 07/10/09 at 09:27 AM ET
Comments (5)
from Jeff Z. Klein of Slap Shot at the NY Times,
The Russians were right.
Defenceman Joel Kwiatkowski, who was reported to have signed with the Atlanta Thrashers earlier this week, already has a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg and will return to Russia to play for SKA this season.
“After agreeing to terms on a contract with Joel Kwiatkowski, we learned that he had already committed to a team in the K.H.L.,” said Atlanta general manager Don Waddell in response to an e-mail inquiry late Thursday. “Therefore we have rescinded our offer and have been told that Joel will honor his agreement with St. Petersburg.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Joel+Kwiatkowski, KHL,
Hudler On Why He Signed With Dynamo Moscow
by Paul on 07/08/09 at 01:54 PM ET
Comments (51)
Thanks to a KK friend Roman for the translation of Hudler’s press conference…
In Detroit there is wasn’t place for me and I didn’t want to go to another club. So i didn’t ask for a trade. Then came Dynamo with their offer.
I started thinking about it and decided to go to Russia. It was tough but this is not a question of life or death. It is only hockey.
The KHL is good league. I should be one of the key players so it could help me in my career. I don’t think I will close the door to NHL. I am young and there are still 13 years until the end of my career. I want my career to be more colorful.
Hudler did say it is the most lucrative contract of his career and in two years he could return to the NHL.
He also said many people will question the move and he thought about it too before deciding to sign with Dynamo Moscow.
On a side note, Dynamo contacted him two years ago about joining them and he said he could not leave Detroit without winning the Stanley Cup.
note: you can follow this story in a previous KK post from this morning.
added 2:38pm, via George Malik of SnapShots at Mlive,
Hudler did tell CTK that he informed Mike Babcock and several teammates of his decision, but he also stated that he still wants his North American agent, Petr Svoboda, to take the Wings to arbitration.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
Hudler To KHL Talk
by Paul on 07/08/09 at 09:11 AM ET
Comments (30)
via Hikej.Sport (translated),
Czech hockey attacker Jiri Hudler apparently heading to Continental League. Pětadvacetiletý player has agreed a new contract terms with Detroit and, according to unofficial information should still be on Wednesday to sign a new contract with the Moscow dynamo. Hudler called the evening press conference.
added 9:36am, It is my understanding the press conference will be at noon ET. I will try to update when more information becomes available.
added 9:49am, Nothing on the Dynamo (translated) website about Hudler.
added 10:04am, from Hokej (translated)
“Jirka’s all a long time considered. On the one hand, the NHL field difficult, is not written anywhere that they can not return in two years,” responds Maršoun. Czech representative admits that the Hudlera was really strong interest in Russia.
added 11:46am, via the Dynamo website (translated),
Czech striker Jiři Gudler signed two-year agreement with Moscow’s Dinamo. Holder and Stanley Cup finalist the last two seasons had a contract offer from the Detroit, but eventually chose to pursue a career in the Moscow club.
added 11:50am, from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
“It’s a real possibility he’s going to take this (Russian) offer,’’ Holland said. “He’d be taking a lot less money to stay in the NHL.’’
added 12:09pm, via Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
There’s a report out there that Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler has signed a one-year deal for $2 million with Moscow Dynamo of the Kontinental Hockey League, but this shouldn’t be viewed as anything other than a negotiating ploy by Hudler’s camp.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jiri+Hudler, KHL,
KHL Claims NHL Broke Agreement
by Paul on 07/08/09 at 07:48 AM ET
Comments (8)
via RussiaToday,
A major row over transfers has erupted between the two biggest ice hockey leagues in the world. The KHL claims the NHL has reneged on an agreement not to poach players.
Canadian Joel Kwiatkowski has agreed to join the Atlanta Thrashers next season despite having already signed a two-year deal to play for SKA St Petersburg.
This is the first such precedent after the International Ice Hockey Federation introduced its new rules concerning player transfers. The move was dubbed “a non-aggression to Northern America pact” as it banned clubs in Europe from signing North American players on contract. In return, the NHL promised not to poach European players under contract.
The KHL says that breaks a gentleman’s agreement between the two leagues.
KHL president Alexander Medvedev says he’ll now call on the International Ice Hockey Federation to act.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Joel+Kwiatkowski, KHL,
Report- Radulov Staying In KHL
by Paul on 06/29/09 at 01:27 PM ET
Comments (9)
via Peter Adler at The Cult Of Hockey,
Alexander Radulov, despite approaches from Nashville and other NHL clubs, has decided to stay at Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Here’s his quote (verbatim translation) from the Sport-Express: “I’m on a two-year contract, and even though I got some offers from the NHL, Ufa helped me last year, and I wouldn’t want to betray them”.
YES! Of course, he was under a valid contract with Nashville last year, and still left them for Ufa.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Radulov, KHL,
Reports Indicate Fedorov Signs With KHL Team
by Paul on 06/25/09 at 08:40 AM ET
Comments (3)
via Tarik El-Bashir of Capitals Insider,
According to three reports out of Russia this morning, Sergei Fedorov’s NHL career is officially over. The 39-year-old has ended more than a month of speculation about his future and reportedly signed a two-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL....
The deal is reportedly for two years at $3.8 million per season.
Magnitogorsk has also announced the signing on their website.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Sergei+Fedorov,
Esche Will Play In KHL Next Season
by Paul on 06/24/09 at 06:48 PM ET
Comments (2)
via Brian Sandler of WKTV,
Having to choose between a return to the National Hockey League and a return to the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, goalie and Whitesboro native Rob Esche has chosen the latter, telling WKTV he will honor the final year of his contract with SKA St. Petersburg.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Robert+Esche,
Lightning Goaltender Karri Ramo Bolts To KHL
by Paul on 06/23/09 at 02:37 PM ET
Comments (3)
from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,
Mark Gandler, the agent for goaltender Karri Ramo has signed a two-year deal to play for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League. Gandler said Ramo, a restricted free agent who was to be the backup for Mike Smith, has been told he will be Omsk’s No. 1.
“Of course,” Gandler said. “He wouldn’t go over there otherwise.”
Gandler said Ramo’s contract (he would not divulge the value) has an option that would allow Ramo to opt out after one season.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Karri+Ramo, KHL,
KHL Interested In Signing Two Penguins
by Paul on 06/17/09 at 08:52 AM ET
Comments (2)
from Russia Today,
Two players from the Pittsburg Penguins, who took the Stanley Cup last week in a dramatic seven-game thriller against Detroit, may leave the U.S. for KHL this summer, Sportbox.ru reports.
Metallurg Magnitogorsk is interested in Czech Petr Sykora, who played 76 games for the Pens this season, scoring 25 goals and 21 assists.
The club’s contract with the player has expired and, according to his agent, the team is not going to offer him a new agreement....
Another Stanley Cup winner, Miroslav Satan, is wanted in Kazakhstan by Barys hockey club. The Astana team has ready offered a two year contract worth $6 million to the Slovak player.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Miroslav+Satan, Petr+Sykora,
Report: Robert Esche on Philly’s Radar
by Alanah McGinley on 06/12/09 at 07:27 PM ET
Comments (1)
From Darren Dreger at TSN:
Another bizarre twist in goaltending may soon unfold in Philadelphia.
Sources tell TSN former Flyers goaltender Robert Esche is on Philadelphia’s radar and may be lured back from the Kontinental Hockey League where he was playing with SKA St.Petersburg.
Philadelphia is one of a few teams believed to be interested in Esche, who spent four seasons with the Flyers before moving to Russia following the 2006-2007 season.
Barry Smith, the head coach for SKA St.Petersburg confirms the NHL interest in Esche, but says he won’t be able to let Esche out of his contract, which has one year remaining, unless he can find a suitable replacement in goal.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Philadelphia Flyers, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl, robert+esche,
Report- Caps Lose Kozlov To KHL
by Paul on 05/26/09 at 01:06 PM ET
Comments (10)
via TSN,
RDS is reporting that forward Viktor Kozlov has signed a deal to play with Salavat of the KHL for next season. Details of the contract were not reported.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Viktor+Kozlov,
The State Of The KHL
by Paul on 05/15/09 at 12:06 PM ET
Comments (5)
from Russia Today,
The Continental Hockey League (KHL) will become equal to their American contemporary the NHL in the next five years, says hockey legend and KHL CEO Vyacheslav Fetisov, Sport-Express newspaper reports.
The KHL officials have officially closed the 2008/09 season, giving a press-conference on Friday.
“I congratulate all of you on the successful conclusion of the KHL season. Everything we were talking about in the past seven years has now become a reality. You all see interest among fans which the league attracted from the very start of the season and the impact that caused by the final series,” Vyacheslav Fetisov said.
“When people do their job from the heart, the result is great. If we continue this way then within five years we will be able to compete with the National Hockey League. We are ready to catch up with Americans as to the quality of the game, and the level of the games organization. But there is, of course, a lot of work ahead of us,” he added.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL, Vyacheslav+Fetisov,
Man Behind The KHL Interested In Purchasing An NHL Team
by Paul on 05/05/09 at 06:24 PM ET
Comments (4)
from Alan Adams at CBC Sports,
Russian billionaire Alexander Medvedev, who has been a thorn in the side of the NHL this season, claims he is looking at buying an NHL team.
“Actually, we have considered 10 opportunities and we’re doing due diligence on three teams,” Medvedev told reporters Tuesday following an oldtimers’ game at the world men’s hockey championship in Zurich, Switzerland.
“It will help us make our decisions.”
Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Gasprom, the world’s biggest natural gas producer, would not say which teams he is looking at, but hinted he thinks the NHL should put more teams in Canada.
Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Medvedev, KHL,
KHL Signs 3-Year European Broadcasting Deal
by Alanah McGinley on 03/31/09 at 01:41 PM ET
Comments (2)
Kontinental Hockey League Press Release:
The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and Viasat are proud to announce a three year agreement for broadcasting rights.
The KHL grants Viasat the legal right to broadcast Kontinental Hockey League games for the 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons, as well the current season’s playoff games.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl, media,
KHL President Talks Jagr & Emery
by Paul on 02/12/09 at 11:34 AM ET
Comments (1)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
We had arranged to interview the KHL president and oil magnate through a league spokesman. We thought the timing was right given the Jaromir Jagr rumors, the Ray Emery situation, the world economic crisis, the nose-diving Russian ruble, falling oil prices and, well, the KHL’s survival.
An Edmonton Journal blog had the industry chirping Tuesday when it speculated the Oilers were taking another run at Jagr (they tried to sign him last July). The Oilers denied it. As we pointed out Tuesday, Jagr can’t leave his Russian contract with Omsk Avangard; and besides, if he did somehow sign with the Oilers, he’d have to clear NHL waivers first.
“Mr. Jagr played today for Avangard,” said Medvedev, who was in New York to take in the Capitals-Rangers game. “Legally, he has a contract. It would surprise me if it was really true that Edmonton tried to negotiate a deal with Mr. Jagr. I don’t like those rumors. But Edmonton publicly announced it wasn’t the case.”
Besides, continued Medvedev, Jagr is signed for “two years plus one [option].”
“And there is no-out clause [in the contract],” added Medvedev.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jaromir+Jagr, KHL, Ray+Emery,
Agent: Emery to Stay in KHL
by Alanah McGinley on 02/11/09 at 06:23 PM ET
Comments (0)
From Pierre LeBrun at his ESPN blog:
We have an update for you on that Ray Emery situation we first told you about this past weekend. The former Ottawa Senators goalie has had a change of heart and returned to his Russian hockey club in the KHL.
“I talked to Ray on Monday, and we made the decision that he should go back,” his agent, J.P. Barry, told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “I felt that he should finish what he started and that we would continue to work out the compensation issue.”
Emery didn’t report back to Mytishchi Atlant last week after the league’s break, citing a breach of contract with the club. Emery and Barry believed the Russian team has been using the wrong exchange rate to pay the goalie, and by their count, they were down about 33 percent in pay throughout the course of the season. Emery threatened to stay home in Ottawa until the matter was resolved, but he arrived back in Russia on Tuesday.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl, ray+emery,
Wayne Fleming Fired by KHL Team… Again
by Alanah McGinley on 01/30/09 at 01:45 PM ET
Comments (2)
Back on January 9th, we cited a report indicating that the former Flames assistant coach was fired by Avangard Omsk of the KHL, mid-game. The following day, Darren Dreger of TSN noted a “power struggle” seemed to be going on, with Fleming acknowleding that “I guess they didn’t fire me.”
Well, for anyone keeping up with the trials and tribulations of Wayne Fleming, today brings this news from Eric Duhatschek at the Globe & Mail:
Wayne Fleming, the Canadian-born coach of the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League’s struggling Avangard Omsk team, is out again as coach – this time for good, it would appear.
Russian hockey sources confirmed Friday Fleming was relieved of his coaching duties earlier this week…
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: khl, wayne+fleming,
The KHL ASG Experience
by Paul on 01/15/09 at 02:28 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Ben Clymer at the Hockey News,
Hey everyone. Everything is going great here in Belarus with Dynamo Minsk of the Kontinental League. I was recently part of a special event I’d like to share with you that was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The KHL All-Star Game took place in Moscow’s Red Square Saturday and pitted Team Jagr (or the import all-stars) against Team Yashin (or the Russian all-stars) and I was fortunate enough to have been chosen to play....
I loved being able to participate in this event because of the history of where it was being played, not only political, but hockey-related as well. I didn’t know this, but Igor Ulanov told me there was a game there in 2006 that pitted some of the Russian all-time greats (Sergei Makarov, Vyacheslav Fetisov, etc.) against ex-NHLers for charity. Red Square brings a unique atmosphere and it was neat to be involved with something that is similar to what the NHL has been doing in recent years.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: KHL,
Long Distance Game Call
by Paul on 01/13/09 at 09:39 PM ET
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from Jeff Miller of the OC Register,
Friday night, they broadcast the Ducks’ game played here against Tampa Bay.
Saturday morning, they broadcast an all-star game played in Moscow.
Yeah, thatMoscow, the one in Russia. Not the one in Idaho.
Estimated travel time from Southern California: 12 hours.
How did they do this, exactly? How’d they leave Honda Center at 11 p.m. and, six hours later, call a game 6,000 miles away?
“Three cups of coffee,” Brent Severyn said, “and two doughnuts did it for me.”
It also helped that NBC was able to bring Moscow to them, to Severyn and partner John Ahlers, the two taking a red-eye drive, just 45 minutes up the freeway, transatlantic carpooling.
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Tags: KHL,
Flemming May Still Have A Job
by Paul on 01/10/09 at 12:31 PM ET
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from Darren Dreger of TSN,
A bizarre power struggle continues to unfold in the KHL between Omsk management and head coach Wayne Fleming.
Fleming, who was (according to russiatoday.com) reportedly fired in-game this week, met with Omsk general manager Anatoli Bardin on Saturday and was told he hadn’t been fired even though Bardin asked Fleming not to coach the third period of game on Thursday night.
“I guess they didn’t fire me,” Fleming said. “But I told him at the time, if I’m not coaching the third period obviously I’m fired.”
Fleming says he didn’t return for the final period, changed his clothes and left the arena under the assumption his KHL days were over.
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Tags: KHL, Wayne+Flemming,
Jagr Happy In Russia
by Paul on 01/09/09 at 04:18 PM ET
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from Lynn Zinser of the New York Times,
As Jaromir Jagr got ready for the latest unique experience in a season already full of them, he said he has no regrets about leaving the N.H.L. to play in Russia, despite watching a teammate die on the bench, having his coach quit in the middle of a game and playing in a league whose financial situation is said to be faltering.
“You could write a book about it,” Jagr said of his season during a telephone interview from Moscow. “But I’m fine. I’m doing good. I’m happy.”
On Friday, Jagr was getting ready to take center stage for the Continental Hockey League, or K.H.L., All-Star game on Saturday at an outdoor rink in Red Square. There, Jagr is the all-star of all stars, the biggest name in a league marketing itself around him.
added 5:33pm, from Ken Campbell of the Hockey News,
Jaromir Jagr said he has no designs on returning to the NHL in the short term, but if he ever did return he would be happy to go back to the Pittsburgh Penguins to play for his former idol, Mario Lemieux.
“I was thinking about it and if Mario would call me and say, ‘I’d like you to play for our team,’ I would think about it a lot,” Jagr said in a telephone interview from Moscow where the Kontinental League will hold its inaugural All-Star Game outdoors at Red Square Saturday. “I would play for the minimum salary. I would play for $350,000 just for him because I owe him my hockey life. I want to pay him back because he has made me what I am…besides my parents.”
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Tags: Jaromir+Jagr, KHL,
Wayne Flemming Fired During The Game
by Paul on 01/09/09 at 09:12 AM ET
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from Russia Today,
The coach of Avangard Omsk hockey team didn’t return to the bench for the third period of his team’s home game against Vityaz Podolsk. Canadian specialist Wayne Fleming couldn’t do so as he’d been fired during the break.
After the second period Avangard were losing 1-0 to lowly Vityaz and the club’s bosses had just had enough of the team’s poor performance in the current KHL season.
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Santa Surprise
by Paul on 01/02/09 at 10:08 AM ET
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I hope the NHL doesn’t pick-up on this marketing idea. It sort of spooks me out.
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Financial Woes In The KHL
by Paul on 12/23/08 at 01:24 PM ET
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
As with all start-ups, it has not exactly been smooth sailing for the KHL in its inaugural season. On Saturday, the league’s board of directors met to ponder an idea that had been floated the week before – a 30 per-cent across-the-board contract rollback to cut costs for some of the most under-funded franchises.
Amid heavy opposition from the newly formed players’ association (run by Andrei Kovalenko, a former NHL, nicknamed The Tank in his playing days), the proposal was put on the shelf at least for the duration of this season. KHL president Alexander Medvedev decided, according to sources, that trying to force a rollback would cause more headaches than it would solve problems....
The KHL salary cap will almost certainly be reduced next season; and Medvedev – a major emerging force in the hockey world - went to great lengths to warn teams that were in arrears in paying player salaries that those agreements needed to be honored. He went so far as to say the government might even intervene if promises weren’t kept.
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Dan LaCouture Trying To Find A Home In Russia
by Paul on 12/18/08 at 11:02 AM ET
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via TSN,
Sources tell TSN another NHL player may be about to jump to the KHL.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Dan LaCouture is believed to have left the team for Russia, however, the Hurricanes remain unclear as to which Kontinental Hockey League team LaCouture is attempting to join.
The Hurricanes intend on suspending LaCouture, who was signed as a free agent in October, if he doesn’t have an immediate change of heart.
If LaCouture walks away from his contract with the Hurricanes this will fuel the ongoing feud between the KHL and the National Hockey League as, once again, the Kontinental Hockey League would have apparently abandoned its policy of respecting NHL contracts.
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Tags: Dan+LaCouture, KHL,
Comfortable In The KHL
by Paul on 12/15/08 at 08:07 AM ET
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from Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star,
On a recent Friday night, an unseasonably warm night for northern Russia in late November, Emery was a world away from the scrutiny and was asked what kind of mood he wakes up in most mornings.
“At the start I do the old, `Where am I?’ when I open my eyes but now I’m used to it,” he said. “Sometimes I’m still confused or feel a bit homesick when I wake up. It’s been a pretty good break for the most part. I’m just relaxing. It’s nice not having that microscope on you, being able to live.
“I miss a lot about Canada, North America, just living there, conversing with people. But at the same time, I don’t miss not being comfortable at dinner because people are watching you and you feel eyes on you all the time.”
read on as Westhead continues with stories from Russia…
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Tags: KHL, Ray+Emery,
An In-Depth Look At The KHL
by Paul on 12/14/08 at 08:24 AM ET
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from Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star,
“There’s no question the hockey is a lot different,” Jagr said. “You’ve got to skate a lot more here, playing on the larger Olympic ice, and there’s more room. Even if you take a shot from near the boards here, you’re really not that close to the net.”
Game programs are free and there are no air horns, organs or vendors walking the aisles. But rock music reverberates through the stadium during breaks in play and over centre ice an NHL-quality video board shows replays.
Between periods, spectators line up at concession counters, and for about $4.50 at one concessionaire called “Chicken Next Door,” they can buy chicken nuggets or kabobs. A pint-sized beer costs $3.80 and Pringle’s potato chips are available for $6.70 for a large, or $3.60 for a small. Jagr and Cherapanov black home jerseys – they bear a resemblance to those worn by the Buffalo Sabres – are available for about $70 apiece.
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Tags: KHL,
The Aggressive Way Of Play
by Paul on 12/13/08 at 04:04 PM ET
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from Russia Today,
Canadian Darcy Verot is spending 2007-2008 season with Vityaz Chekhov. His arrival was some kind of a sensation, since Russian hockey had never seen this aggressive way of playing the game, which the Chekhov crowd really enjoys. The town’s stadium rarely has empty seats even though the club is currently the worst in the KHL.
read on and watch a related video…
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Tags: Darcy+Verot, KHL,
KHL Takes a Lesson From the NHL
by Alanah McGinley on 12/04/08 at 04:25 PM ET
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From WABC:
The NHL won’t have the only outdoor hockey game this season.
The Continental Hockey League announced Thursday its first ever All-Star Game will be held outdoors Jan. 10 at Red Square.
Team Yashin, featuring Russian-born players and led by former New York Islanders center Alexei Yashin, will take on Team Jagr, made up of players from the rest of the world and captained by former New York Rangers star winger Jaromir Jagr.
Voting on the KHL All Star game has been going on here. Photo is from Sharkspage where PJ included it on this post a couple years ago about another notable hockey game that took place in Red Square.
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Tags: all+star+game, khl, red+square,
Team Yashin vs Team Jagr
by Alanah McGinley on 11/26/08 at 05:28 PM ET
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From Canwest via the Ottawa Citizen:
The inaugural Continental Hockey League All-Star Game will have an NHL ring to it.
The KHL announced on its website that the all-star game - which will be played outdoors at Moscow’s Red Square on Jan. 11 - will pit “Yashin Team” vs. “Jagr Team.”
The Yashin Team, headed by former Ottawa Senator and New York Islander Alexei Yashin, will feature players from Russia and former Soviet republics. Jagr Team, headed by former Pittsburgh Penguins great Jaromir Jagr, will be made up of non-Russian players.
The format was decided by fan voting on the KHL website. The KHL announced Wednesday that 50.13 per cent of voters favoured the Yashin vs. Jagr format, while 49.87 per cent favoured a more tradition West vs. East format.
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Matt Murley Cleared by IIHF to Play in KHL
by Alanah McGinley on 11/24/08 at 01:13 PM ET
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Press release from the KHL:
The Disciplinary Committee of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) recently met to discuss violations of the IIHF bylaws on player transfers in connection with the transfer of United States forward Matt Murley to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) club Amur Khabarovsk.
Mr. Murley left the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL) and joined the Amur team of the KHL on October 10. The NHL informed the IIHF that the player had a valid contract with Carolina and had no right to enter into an agreement with any other club.
Complete explanation below. [Update: Plus added links down below]
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Tags: iihf, khl, matt+murley,
Still Scoring
by Paul on 11/21/08 at 11:33 AM ET
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Some of your favorite ex-NHL players still putting the puck in the net in the KHL.
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Criminal Investigation Continues in Cherepanov’s Death
by Alanah McGinley on 11/14/08 at 12:25 PM ET
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The KHL’s Vice-President of Hockey Operations Vladimir Shalaeva and others addressed the media at a press conference today in Moscow, with updates surrounding the investigation into Cherepanov’s death.
“Today November 14, 2008, there was a move to close the criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Aleksei Cherepanov, however the prosecutor ordered that the criminal investigation continue.
“A comprehensive forensic study, conducted by additional medical specialists is underway to more deeply and thoroughly analyze the case. We will not be able to share the cause of death of Alexei Cherepanov until this examination is completed in full.”
-- Vladimir Shalaeva
Shalaeva also noted that the New York Rangers have provided their own medical records on Cherepanov to the KHL.
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Tags: alex+cherepanov, khl, Vladimir+Shalaeva,
The Direction Of The KHL
by Paul on 11/10/08 at 07:26 PM ET
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League — considered to be the greatest threat to NHL stability since the WHA — is undergoing its own growing pains in its inaugural season, with teams missing payroll, uncertainty over the fate of its smaller franchises and worries about the possible impact of the growing world economic crisis on its well-moneyed backers, many of them who rely on high world oil prices for their wealth.
“I should be and I must be and I will be honest with you — that is a big concern,” said Igor Larionov Monday, on the day he was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame, after a distinguished 27-year career, mixed between international and NHL play....
Larionov said the economics of the KHL make little sense today, given that some teams in the Moscow draw as few as 1,000 to 2,000 people per game and ticket prices are so modest - $5, $10, $15 max. At that rate, he does not believe the sort of salaries they were offering to players last season — as much as $10 million to Pittsburgh Penguins’ star Evgeni Malkin — were sustainable over the long term.
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Tags: Igor+Larionov, KHL,
Three KHL Players Found to Have Heart Problems
by Alanah McGinley on 11/10/08 at 02:51 PM ET
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Last week the KHL announced it was undertaking medical evaluations across the league and invited media members to observe the process.
Today, after the first round of evaluations have been completed on some 67 players under the age of 20, some preliminary results were made public:
Based upon the first round of examinations, three KHL players were found to have heart problems. These athletes were referred to cardiologist specialists to undergo more testing.
The KHL’s Medical Center won’t be banning players as yet; the cardiologists will make that determination.
Full text of the press release is below:
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Tags: khl, kontinental+hockey+league,
