So when a new CBA is reached and the NHL lockout concludes, the Kontinental Hockey League will reluctantly but freely release their rented superstars back to North America, right?
Not so fast.
Arkady Rotenberg, the president of Alexander Ovechkin’s Moscow Dynamo, told R-Sport on Thursday that both his club and the men running Ilya Kovalchuk’s SKA St. Petersburg are contemplating ways to keep their newfound stars in the KHL.
With 51 points in the standings, Ovechkin’s Dynamo leads the entire league. SKA is also enjoying a boost from its NHL talent injection. The team’s 46 points are good for fourth overall in the 26-club league.
“Is there the desire to retain Alexander Ovechkin at Dynamo after the NHL lockout? Dynamo has such thoughts,” Rotenberg told R-Sport.
“I heard that there are those thoughts too at the Army Sports Club in St. Petersburg,” he continued. “So we are looking in that direction, we’ll see whether it’ll work out.”
That said, any report that lists Kovalchuk as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers should be taken with a grain of salt, but we could be in for a labour dispute after our labour dispute.
It’s Friday. Here’s some puck porn. Complete with an awful (and presumably awfully cheap) soundtrack.
Top 10 KHL hits:
Top 10 KHL goals:
Top 10 KHL saves:
According to Dustin Brown’s boarding pass, the CBA negotiations still have a ways to go:
Just posted a photo instagr.am/p/RwLMtzzeAc/ — dustin brown (@DustinBrown23) November 8, 2012
Just posted a photo instagr.am/p/RwLMtzzeAc/
— dustin brown (@DustinBrown23) November 8, 2012
Watch the Los Angeles Kings captain’s first interview in Zurich here, as he’s about to join coach Marc Crawford’s Lions.
Best question: “What can the fans expect, great goals or great hits?”
We don’t think 50-year-old defensive legend Chris Chelios was kidding when he told Michigan Live this on Thursday:
“I wish I still could be playing, but I don’t miss playing, if that makes sense. But, if in two years, if my kids are done and don’t make the minors, I might just decide to play in Europe and play there. Who knows?”
Tyler Seguin is making the most of his Swiss club’s break. Wednesday he was taking in a Boston Celtics game; Thursday he had a chance to watch Connor McDavid face off against Nail Yakupov:
Off to Toronto. Going to Canada Russia subway series game in Guelph tonight. Finally get to see some North American hockey! — Tyler Seguin (@tylerseguin92) November 8, 2012
Off to Toronto. Going to Canada Russia subway series game in Guelph tonight. Finally get to see some North American hockey!
— Tyler Seguin (@tylerseguin92) November 8, 2012
Injured New York Ranger Carl Hagelin is coming back to North America:
Carl Hagelin has left his team in Sweden, returning to NY for rehab on shoulder. — Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) November 8, 2012
Carl Hagelin has left his team in Sweden, returning to NY for rehab on shoulder.
— Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) November 8, 2012
Per rules in the land of the stupid, Hagelin not permitted to get rehab from NYR training staff. — Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) November 8, 2012
Per rules in the land of the stupid, Hagelin not permitted to get rehab from NYR training staff.
Unclear as to extent of shoulder injury Hagelin sustained couple weeks ago but told that no surgery is required. — Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) November 8, 2012
Unclear as to extent of shoulder injury Hagelin sustained couple weeks ago but told that no surgery is required.
If you don’t feel sorry for the locked-out NHLers taking a pay cut but playing overseas, New York Rangers defenceman Michael Del Zotto is doing nothing to change your mind:
Beautiful view from outdoor patio from my apartment. Lake Zurich and the alps. twitter.com/MichaelDelZott… — Michael Del Zotto (@MichaelDelZotto) November 9, 2012
Beautiful view from outdoor patio from my apartment. Lake Zurich and the alps. twitter.com/MichaelDelZott…
— Michael Del Zotto (@MichaelDelZotto) November 9, 2012