NHL Dismisses Threat of New Russian League

See original AP story here.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin said he has no intention of returning home to play in Russia, and the threat of a newly revamped Russian professional league using lucrative offers to poach talent is being dismissed by NHL officials.

"At this point it's not a major concern" NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the press at the conclusion of the NHL's draft in Ottawa on Saturday. "We understand that there is going to be another league. We will see what impact it has. So far, it hasn't really had a major effect on us.

"We still continue to believe that the best players in the world will continue to want to play in the National Hockey League—the best league in the world."

Daly's comments came after the Toronto Star reported last week that several teams from the Continental Hockey League intended to offer Malkin a multiyear contract worth $12.5 million per season. That's far more than the Penguins or any NHL club could offer under the cap system.

Malkin's agent, J.P. Barry, confirmed that his client recieved a very lucrative "back-channel" offer to play in Russia, but stressed it was deal that Malkin had no intention of accepting.

"That's not what he interested in doing", Barry said. "If this was all about money he would go to Russia, because he could make more in Russia than he could ever make in the NHL. Evgeni's decision is he wants to stay in Pittsburgh."

Even if Malkin was interested, he couldn't jump leagues until after his contract with the Penguins was up. International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel has threatened disciplinary action—including disqualification from Olympic play—against any league signing a player under contract in another league.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero said he's committed to re-signing Malkin to a long-term contract this summer, and is convinced that the player will remain a fixture on a team that also includes star Sidney Crosby.

"He loves playing in Pittsburgh and our mutual goal is to work out a contract, an extension," said Shero. "My only focus is working on something that he's happy with, and we're happy with moving forward."

The CHL was founded last month, after replacing the former Russian Super League, and is expected to feature 24 teams when its scheduled to begin play in September. Two veteran NHL Free Agents, forward Chris Simon, and goaltender John Gramme expressed interest in joining the new league.

Others might follow, but its too early to tell what real impact the new Russian league will have on the NHL talent pool.

"Obviously, if you've got star players, your concerned if you have a chance to lose them, but let see what happens," said Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland, whose team features Russian star Pavel Datsyuk. "I find that talk fuels alot of speculation, and speculation fuels alot of stories, and alot of times things don't turn out the way everybody thinks."

Wayne Gretzky had a different reaction.

"Forget concerns, I wish they were around when I was playing," said Gretzky, coach and managing partner of the Phoenix Coyotes.

"My goodness, its a big decision for Malkin," Gretzky said. "Financially, its incredible, you get a chance to go back to your home country. On the other side of it, you get to play with one of the best players in the NHL Crosby...in some ways its overwhelming, to be honest with you."

The NHL's exposure to Russian encroachment has been lessened over the past few years. NHL teams have shied away from drafting Russian-born players because the lack of a transfer agreement. The lack of an agreement provides NHL teams little leverage in signing Russian prospects still playing in their native land, making it a significant risk to use a high draft pick who may never compete in North America.

Nine Russian-born players were selected in this years draft, two more than last year. That's a big drop-off from the 2000-03 draft classes, when 30 or more Russian players were selected each year.

Washington Capitals GM George McPhee said its important to be certain a Russian player is committed to coming to North America before that player is drafted. Its a commitment the Capitals received before selecting Dmitri Kugryshev in the second round this past weekend.

McPhee noted the presence of star Alex Ovechkin on his roster might provide the Capitals an edge with other Russians.

" There's some risk there. But we feel the risk is less with a player like Ovechkin." McPhee said. "They'd like to come play with him."