Post by IceStick77 on Aug 16, 2006 10:50:51 GMT -5
www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=174392&hubname=nhl
An interesting read, if you've understood what Malkin has done so far.
I really hope that people don't pressure him too much in the future, for he could be a real star in the NHL.
Evgeni Malkin has officially sent his resignation to Metallurg Magnitogorsk, according to team coach Dave King.
King told the FAN 590 in Toronto that a fax was received by the team that indicated Malkin was exercising his "two-week window rights" to re-sign. Russian law apparently allows any employee to leave an employer, even while under contract, simply by giving two weeks notice.
King said he did not know where Malkin was, but speculated that he was staying with Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin somewhere in the United States. Ovechkin, however, was in Toronto on Tuesday and told TSN he had not spoken to Malkin in a couple of weeks.
Malkin's agents have only said that their client is safe.
The resignation strategy they have employed is one that no Russian hockey player had used until Alexei Mikhnov, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, gave his written notice to Russian club Yaroslavl on June 30. That situation, however, also remains unresolved. Yaroslavl could still attempt to prevent Mikhnov from leaving Russia, or it could take legal action against the Oilers to block him from making the move.
"All we know is Mikhnov gave his notice to leave his club team and the two-week period expired," Oilers assistant GM Scott Howson told the Edmonton Journal last week. Howson also told the Journal that Mikhnov's agent was, in fact, negotiating a contract with the Oilers.
Malkin seems a long way from getting to that step - if he gets there at all.
Penguins star Sergei Gonchar told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he spoke to Malkin a week ago, just before Malkin disappeared while Metallurg Magnitogorsk was training in Finland. Gonchar noted that Malkin sounded disappointed about having signed to stay with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
"He was very upset," Gonchar told the Tribune-Review, noting that there must have been a lot of pressure on the youngster to re-sign with his Russian team - maybe too much pressure.
"It's a different country than it used to be," Gonchar told the Times-Review. "Hopefully, nobody is going to put pressure on his family or himself when he comes back. But at the same time, there's got to be some pressure because otherwise a guy wouldn't sign a deal at 3 a.m. then disappear in a couple days.
"I'm assuming he's in the United States or some other country where he can wait."
Russian national team coach Vyacheslav Bykov has already told the Russian newspaper Sport-Express that Malkin would still be welcome to play for his country.
King told the FAN 590 in Toronto that a fax was received by the team that indicated Malkin was exercising his "two-week window rights" to re-sign. Russian law apparently allows any employee to leave an employer, even while under contract, simply by giving two weeks notice.
King said he did not know where Malkin was, but speculated that he was staying with Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin somewhere in the United States. Ovechkin, however, was in Toronto on Tuesday and told TSN he had not spoken to Malkin in a couple of weeks.
Malkin's agents have only said that their client is safe.
The resignation strategy they have employed is one that no Russian hockey player had used until Alexei Mikhnov, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, gave his written notice to Russian club Yaroslavl on June 30. That situation, however, also remains unresolved. Yaroslavl could still attempt to prevent Mikhnov from leaving Russia, or it could take legal action against the Oilers to block him from making the move.
"All we know is Mikhnov gave his notice to leave his club team and the two-week period expired," Oilers assistant GM Scott Howson told the Edmonton Journal last week. Howson also told the Journal that Mikhnov's agent was, in fact, negotiating a contract with the Oilers.
Malkin seems a long way from getting to that step - if he gets there at all.
Penguins star Sergei Gonchar told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he spoke to Malkin a week ago, just before Malkin disappeared while Metallurg Magnitogorsk was training in Finland. Gonchar noted that Malkin sounded disappointed about having signed to stay with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
"He was very upset," Gonchar told the Tribune-Review, noting that there must have been a lot of pressure on the youngster to re-sign with his Russian team - maybe too much pressure.
"It's a different country than it used to be," Gonchar told the Times-Review. "Hopefully, nobody is going to put pressure on his family or himself when he comes back. But at the same time, there's got to be some pressure because otherwise a guy wouldn't sign a deal at 3 a.m. then disappear in a couple days.
"I'm assuming he's in the United States or some other country where he can wait."
Russian national team coach Vyacheslav Bykov has already told the Russian newspaper Sport-Express that Malkin would still be welcome to play for his country.
An interesting read, if you've understood what Malkin has done so far.
I really hope that people don't pressure him too much in the future, for he could be a real star in the NHL.
