The Two-Line Pass

In last night’s Avangard Omsk/Chekhov Vityaz game, Rangers first-round pick Alexei Cherepanov collided with a teammate on a change and was knocked unconscious. Later, his heart stopped and he had to be taken to the hospital.

According to the Alexander Ovechkin blog, which is a great source for Russian hockey news, the player he collided with was Jaromir Jagr, who was crying and screaming for Cherepanov to wake up. You may remember that the two had forged a tight relationship early in their Avangard time together. Jagr was Cherepanov’s boyhood hero.

The comments on the article paint a particularly grim picture, with one saying Cherepanov has died. Really hoping that’s not the case.

Update: Sports.ru is indeed saying that Cherepanov has passed away.

Jesus Christ.

So Sept. 2 was Ray Emery’s KHL debut, and it.. umm. Yeah, it didn’t go well.

Emery gave up six goals in a 6-5 overtime loss to Spartak.

“This morning I managed to watch Ray Emery’s KHL debut for Atlant Mytishchi vs. Spartak Moscow. Emery’s Atlant lost 6-5 in overtime with the winning goal scored by Stefan Ruzhichka on the power play.

Emery looked a little shaky, he let in a goal from the point with no one standing in front of him and was beaten on a break-away by a tied up forward whose shot seemed to surprise him. The highlight of the game was a beautiful goal scored by Alexander Yunkov after a nice pass from his brother(?) Mikhail Yunkov behind the net caught Emery looking the wrong way.

Atlant made it close with a game tieing goal from Pronin late in the game but Spartak managed to capitalize on the power play on a penalty in overtime and win the game.”

Not good, Ray. Not good at all. To be fair though, Emery never even had a chance on the game-winner.

Think dealing with the KHL is bad? Try dealing with the KHL in a few years, when even they have competition beyond the NHL.

The other day, former NHLer Hakan Loob revealed plans to dissolve the Swedish Elite League (click for moon language) in the next two or three years with the idea of competing with the KHL as soon as possible.

Håkan Loob revealed plans today: “It is a must for the Swedish ice hockey is not to lose out remains strong in Europe.”

Now it’s no secret or covert work projects anymore.

…

The new multinational Superligan can become a reality within two years.

…

Sportbladet can reveal that Färjestad, Frölunda, HV71, Djurgården and Linköping have jointly put together a team of outside experts and club employees to analyze how a possible Nordic accordance would work and be received by sponsors and hockey fans.

Apparently the response has been overwhelmingly strong.

The SEL, like several other smaller leagues in Scandanavian countries, is in real danger of being completely pillaged of its best players by the cutthroat KHL clubs, and and improved alliance (more like a unified front) would certainly help the Scandanavian leagues’ ability to stand up to the dark power growing in the East.

But he says that Färjestad just today have more focus on a Nordic accord than on KHL, the new Russian league. How quickly a Nordic league can become a reality is not fixed.

…

“I do not think that Färjestad play in elitserien, as it stands today, in a few years. A change will come about and more teams from other countries generates growth, which is a must for the Swedish ice hockey is not to lose out remains strong in Europe and why not in the world,” says Loob.

Right now discussed a Nordic accordance with 16-20 teams are included.

Most locations, are in Sweden and Finland. Then, strong Norwegian and Danish teams have the opportunity to enter the league.

But by becoming strong themselves, they also present a greater problem to the NHL itself, just as Russia’s league does. Granted, the Scandanavian countries have certainly been more than willing to send players over to North America in the past, but so, for a while, was Russia. What began as a bitter fight over Evgeni Malkin’s rights being owned by either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Metallurg Magnitogorsk has exploded into another Cold War with neither side willing to really listen to the other, but both overly cautious of what the other’s power growth might mean for its own future.

With the Scandanavians entering the fray, it could serve one of two purposes. First is the preferable, if less likely, one: that the league will help break the tension between the KHL and NHL by openly dealing with both, and encouraging business between the two others indirectly. The second, and more unfortunate option: things get worse, and in the Scandanavian’s desire to protect their own interests, they also cease to have a transfer agreement with either league. It would be great for Scandanavia to hold onto its big stars, but, speaking purely as a selfish American, I’m not sure it’s in the entire sport’s best interest.

Based on the findings of the report, my conclusion was that this idea was not a practical deterrent for reasons which at this moment must be all too obvious.

Lately, the situation between the KHL and NHL has been a bit tense.

The armies of general managers, agents, league officials and lawyers have been holed up in their Cold War-era situation rooms for the weeks following the KHL’s July 15 moratorium on signing players under NHL contracts. The begrudging “respect” was borne of the mutually-assured destruction that would take place were one side to openly attack the other.

What the Kings just did is the equivalent of dropping a neutron bomb on Leningrad, then sent a teletype to Kruschev making light of his mother’s weight problem, indicating that, were she to sit around the Kremlin, she would sit AROUND the Kremlin.

It’s on now (click for moon language-y goodness, but good on the Ruskies for using WordPress).

“The Continental Hockey League strictly adhered to the unilaterally declared moratorium on signing players who had existing contracts with the National Hockey League clubs. The NHL violated the earlier agreement in Zurich on August 28 and formally announced the signing of contracts by the Los Angeles Kings club with players Andrei Loktionovym and Vyacheslav Voynovym. These players have existing contracts with KHL clubs “Lokomotiv” (Yaroslavl) and “Tractor” (Chelyabinsk), respectively.

“In connection with this, the KHL considers itself free from any obligations to comply with the previously announced moratorium on transferring players. On September 6 at the headquarters of the International Hockey Federation in Zurich, there will be a meeting on this topic, after which the Continental Hockey League will determine further action regarding the National Hockey League.”

Whether or not their KHL contracts were actually valid is a point I’m sure the Kings would deny profusely, but regardless, why pry open this can of worms right now? It’s not as though the Kings didn’t retain their rights, and it’s not as though these kids are likely to make the big club this year. Lombardi had previously said they’re open to playing in North America regardless of it being the NHL or in juniors, and certainly they wanted to get them signed before they put pen to paper on a long-term KHL deal, but I would have to think someone at the NHL’s head office would say to Dean Lombardi (and I’m sure he consulted them on this), “Uhh, Dean, this seems like a pretty bad idea right now.”

Who’s to say that a transfer agreement of some kind couldn’t have been reached before next year’s draft? Who’s to say these kids would have signed a KHL contract for five years and a lot more than the Kings can give them, as is Lombardi’s fear? If they’re so committed to North America, then getting them to sign at any point would have been simple enough.

I understand that this might all be posturing from KHL officials like the Filatov situation. The NHL says Russian Super League contracts never carried over to the KHL, the KHL says they did. That’s for the IIHF to decide.

But why would Lombardi stir the pot to begin with? There’s nothing to be gained by this aside from two mid-level prospects. Doesn’t seem worth it to me.

"Ehhh, what's up unresolvable international labor conflict?"

Under a shroud of great secrecy, Gary Bettman met with KHL czar (see what I did there?) Alexander Medvedev to discuss a possible resolution to this whole “a-KHL-team-signed-Alexander-Radulov-while-he-was-still-under-contract-with-an-NHL-team-and-ain’t-that-a-bitch” situation. Try and guess how squared away the situation is now.

“I would say it’s fair to say that no progress was made on the Radulov situation,’’ Daly said.

Sounds about right.

Of course, back in Mother Russia, Radulov is trumpeting the pro-Russian cause with a gun at his back.

“(The) NHL for 15 years brought young players from Europe, first and foremost from Russia,’’ Radulov said, according to russianprospects.com. “I think that it is time to end this. Simply put: time to stop robbing us!’’

I understand how good Radulov is and I understand what a bad precedent this is to set, but neither side is going to budge on this, so let’s just call the assembled lawyer-armies off.

“He was under contract with us,” the NHL goons will shout.

“Yeah but we didn’t have a transfer agreement,” the KHL suits will counter.

And on and on.

The only chance Bettman has to counter this is a duck season/rabbit season-type Bugs Bunny switcheroo. This plan could also involve Bettman dressing up as “Gabriella Bettman” and seducing Medvedev into shooting himself in the face with a shotgun in such a way that the lower half of his face will be on the wrong side of his head.

DON'T DO THIS ANY MORE

Granted, this will be another sloppily translated story stolen from a Russian newspaper, but stick with me.

Chris Simon landed in Russia yesterday to train for his season with Vityaz Checkov in the Kontinental Hockey League, and gave an interview with Sport Express (click for moon language). Most of the answers were what you’d expect, but Simon seems unclear on what his role will be.

(Note: All very roughly translated because I am bad with the Ruskie talk.)

Russian hockey lovers you perceive primarily as a credible fighter. How are you going to play?

That is the understanding in Checkov, but I am waiting to see the quality of the game and the leadership qualities (I can give). I came to play hockey and I want to help the team by using my skills the best I can. If I have to fight, no problem, but the game comes first.

If you start to regularly score goals, many will be surprised…

But it will be a good surprise, right?

Uhh, Chris, buddy? Yeah I hate to be the one that has to break it to you, but fighting’s not really a big thing in Europe. Apart from Krzsztof Oliwa, name one European that is or was a true enforcer. I’ll wait.

..

….

…….

Okay. So please, let’s understand together, Chris, that the name of the game over there is stickwork, and it’s accepted. I wouldn’t recommend hauling off and pummelling the first guy that slashes you on the shin unless you want to end up in some Siberian gulag. That’s just how they roll over there.

Simon said he’s drawn the “right lessons” from his past, err, many indiscretions. Let’s just hope there’s not another one.

Suck it, Nashville

Ah those crazy Ruskies. They’ll do anything to make Gary Bettman cry tears of impotent rage.

The other day, Alexander Radulov was introduced (click for moon language) by his new team Ufa-based Salavat Yulaev, in a press conference. Just to rub salt in the NHL’s wounds, the Russian press has delighted in refering to Radulov as an “ex-Nashville player.”

At the press conference, Radulov said he “gladly accepted” Ufa’s offer to get out of the United States (if I’m reading Russian correctly, that is).

According to the New York Times’ Slap Shot blog, which has been nice enough to link to this fledgling blog a few times, Salavat Yulaev has a team budget of about 620 million rubles, or roughly $26.5 million, less than half of the NHL salary cap. With the contracts some of these teams are giving out, that figure is in the top four in all of the KHL.

Meanwhile, Radulov and Ufa are still under IIHF investigation, not that that matters much to any parties involved. The NHL is still hoping the KHL will magically void the contract.

“We continue to expect the KHL and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation to take a position and refuse to aid and abet a blatant breach of contract which, through their inaction to date, they have now become party to,” Daly said via e-mail.

The IIHF will come to an agreement by “mid-August.” Ask Mats Sundin about deadlines like that. The IIHF could rule that if Radulov was improperly signed by Ufa (he was), that the player or team is not eligible for the Champions League. Further, if Radulov is ruled to be in violation, he and Russia could be banned from IIHF events for an undertermined amount of time.

Is Alexander Radulov, good though he may be, really worth this kind of headache?

Imagine this guy telling you to do sprints

A lot of things can be said about Jaromir Jagr, and now “future coach” seems to be among them.

Since signing with Avangard Omsk, he has taken Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov under his wing, as he did with Rangers rookie Brandon Dubinsky last year. Cherepanov, who scored a hat trick in Omsk’s first preseason game (preseason hockey in August!), said that Jagr has been incredibly helpful so far.

- Do you communicate with him often?

- Yes, sometimes I ask him about the NHL. Jaromir knows that I have been invited there, and once said: “You want to play in the NHL - train more.” After these words I began to work even harder. By the way, after each practice Jaromir works extra with me: shows me all kinds of techniques, teaches me how to shoot, tells me how and on what I still need to work. In a way he is one of my coaches.

This must be very surreal for Cherepanov, who grew up idolizing Jagr. The young forward still admits he’s a bit starstruck to have Jagr on his team, giving him advice.

- Last season, you said more than once that Jagr is your idol and that you dreamed of playing on one team with him. Today your dream has come true…

- You can’t even imagine what emotions are now overflowing in me. A dream is a dream, but at the same time, even I could not imagine that we would play together for the Omsk club!

- Most likely, you now wait for the chance to play with him on one line?

- I think that such a thing is possible! Anyway, now I dream of scoring off a pass from Jagr.

- Has it been possible to get the autograph of the Czech?

- Not yet, but after all, the whole season is still ahead.

And one quote that should be worrisome for Rangers fans: “And then when I learned that my idol would play in Omsk, I generally forgot about the NHL for awhile.”

Uh oh.

It’s not all sunshine and smiles over in Russia, as at least one team is in danger of dropping out of the KHL altogether.

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (which I swear isn’t a made-up name), has backed out of the league because the local government won’t give them the money it guaranteed back in November. The club also thinks that, in paying the $8.5 million (that’s 200 million rubles to you commies) in salaries it already has on the books, it will go bankrupt. Even with those salaries, the team would still be $1.5 million below the league’s cap floor.

The club has also yet to pay its KHL entrance fee.

Don’t worry though, Alexander Medvedev has a plan.

In the case of withdrawal, traditional club Khimik Voskresensk, which won the second-tier Vysshaya Liga, is the stand-by club and has provided the KHL with financial guarantees.

And if that fails?

Medvedev also announced that if Khimik cannot participate, a fourth foreign club will join the KHL.

Sounds like this league’s in great shape. Radulov will be back by Thanksgiving.

This man desperately wants Tomas Mojzis and Jason Krog to play hockey for him

It’s good that the Kontinental Hockey League and the NHL have hammered out that informal transfer agreement, because when the IIHF suspends six players for possibly illegal transfers to and from the new league, it really helps the process to have everyone cooperat…

“We do not accept the idea of suspending the contracts because this has not been agreed on by KHL and NHL,” said KHL President Alexander Medvedev in a statement.

Oh.

Well to be fair, this isn’t just anyone they’re suspending. It’s Alexander Radulov, Nikita Filatov, Thomas Mojzis, Jason Krog, Fedor Fedorov and Viktor Tikhonov. When Jason Krog can’t play, you might as well shut the whole hockey world down.

It doesn’t bother me that these players got suspended. They signed contracts and should have honor them. But to have the Russians want it to work both ways is embarrassing to the league, unsurprising though the revelations may be.

Medvedev is pissed because all five that aren’t Radulov signed North American deals.

• Filatov, the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, is still property of CSKA Moscow.
• Tikhonov signed with the Coyotes on July 1 even though he’s considered Severstal Cherepovets property, as is Krog, who signed a deal with the Russian team in May before signing with Vancouver a few weeks ago.
• Feodorov signed with New Jersey after playing with Dynamo Moscow last year.
• Mojzis, it seems, played roller hockey in the World Championships last year and apparently has signed with the Wild organization.

On the other hand, despite Radulov being in the middle of a deal with Nashville, his signing with Ufa is perfectly acceptable to the Ruskies. This is the reason we had a Cold War, Russia. Unless you want some nukes tilted toward Bashkortostan, you’d better give us back Radulov posthaste.