EuroVision: Kane apologizes to NHL fans

EuroVision: Highlights, notes, tweets and photos from across the pond — where the lockout doesn’t quite translate

Patrick Kane is back in Chicago, but only because he’s returned home for Switzerland’s national break. (Seriously, how many week-long breaks do these European leagues take? They’re like that guy at the office who saves up his vacation days for years and then cashes them in all at once.)

Before Kane left EHC Biel, he gave this video interview, highlighted by an apology to NHL fans.

“(To) the fans back in North America, we want to say that we’re sorry this lockout stuff is going on. It’s tough for all of us,” Kane said. “As fans, it’s tough for you guys too.

“I hope that you guys come back when the game does start,” he went on. “We appreciate the patience and hopefully we’ll see you soon.”

Despite racking up seven goals and eight assists in 14 games in the Swiss A, Kane is a minus-4 on the ice.

Well, the moment you all have been waiting for is here. Voting for the KHL All-Star Game, which will also not be held in Columbus this year, is now open.

Among the early vote leaders to start in the exhibition, set for Jan. 12-13 in Chelyabinsk, are NHL stars Evgeni Malkin (first overall), Alex Ovechkin (second), Ilya Kovalchuk (third), Pavel Datsyuk (fourth), Sergei Gonchar (first among defencemen), and Zdeno Chara (third among defencmen). Colorado Avalanche netminder Semyon Varlamov leads all goaltenders in votes, with triple the number of ballots cast for 2012 Vezina runner-up Pekka Rinne.

Cast your votes here.

Note to NHL.com: I’m digging the interactive rink-style voting ballot.

Don’t expect Edmonton Oilers prospect Nail Yakupov to make the KHL’s All-Star Game.

After going on a tear earlier this season, Yakupov was held pointless in his last four contests before the KHL broke for hiatus Sunday until Dec. 18.

The Edmonton Journal figures the next time we’ll see Yakupov in action will be the world juniors in Ufa.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is not a believer:

New York Rangers defenceman Michael Del Zotto, currently a restricted free agent, has flown back home after a short and disappointing stint in Switzerland alongside temporary teammate Jason Spezza.

In just nine games overseas, Del Zotto scored six points, was a minus-8 on the ice, and acquired one injury:

And according to the New York Post, Ranger Rick Nash’s groin injury is “minor,” as diagnosed following his medical exam over weekend.

The lockout injury train, however, keeps rolling…

Despite playing some solid hockey and contributing a point per game to Jaromir Jagr’s Kladno, New Jersey Devils defenceman Marek Zidlicky (three goals and 22 assists in 25 games) is leaving Kladno (Jaromir Jagr’s team).

Thankfully for Devils fans and Zidlicky’s boy, the veteran is not leaving Europe due to injury:

Another New Jersey defenceman, Anton Volchenkov, returned to the KHL’s Torpedo after being sidelined since Oct. 15 with a broken bone in his left foot.

Volchenkov and Kovalchuk are now the only Devils playing overseas, according to the team’s Fire and Ice blog.

And Ottawa Senators forward Kyle Turris has also called an end to his European vocation.

Turris scored 19 points in 21 games for Karpat of the Finnish Elite League.

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