Hockey News and Updates

Russian phenom Malkin wants to play for Pens

Evgeni Malkin still wants to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins as soon as possible, his agent said Monday, even though Malkin's Russian team announced the star forward has renegotiated his contract and plans to stay out of the NHL for another season.

Russian super league team Metallurg Magnitogorsk posted a story Monday on its Web site that Malkin met late into Sunday night with team officials and had reworked a three-year contract into a one-year deal that would allow him to become a free agent in 2007.

However, Malkin's agent, JP Barry, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Malkin told him he wants to play in the NHL this season. Malkin also has been quoted in Russia as saying he wants to play in Pittsburgh soon.

"His wish is to play in the NHL, and in Pittsburgh," Barry said. "We will continue to talk to him about his future, and we will decide the best course for him at this time."

Malkin's agents, Barry and Pat Brisson, apparently were not with him in Russia during his talks with Metallurg.

Penguins spokesman Tom McMillan said the team was aware of the Russian team's announcement, but had no comment until it could sort out what was going on.

Malkin was the No. 2 pick in the June 2004 draft behind last season's rookie of the year, fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin, and is widely considered the best player in the world not playing in the NHL. The Penguins have been planning for Malkin to join them next month, especially after the Russian hockey federation said it would sign a transfer agreement allowing its players to move to the NHL for a $200,000 fee that would be split by all the Russian teams.

The other major European hockey federations already follow the transfer agreement. Russia did not do so last season, thus blocking Malkin from joining the Penguins a year ago.

But the Russian federation didn't sign the agreement despite considerable lobbying by new president Vladislav Tretiak, apparently because of considerable pressure from top Russian clubs that want to negotiate much higher transfer fees for star players such as Malkin. Malkin's club is believed to want $2 million or more for Malkin's rights.

Also complicating the issue is Malkin's repeated switching of agents. Until June, he was represented by Barry and Brisson, who also represent Penguins star Sidney Crosby. Malkin then hired Don Meehan, who was giving interviews as Malkin's agent until late last week. However, Malkin rehired Barry and Brisson within the last few days.

Meehan said last week that the 20-year-old Malkin could circumvent his Russian contract and leave to play for the Penguins by simply resigning his job and giving the team a two-week notice that he was leaving. Russian law apparently permits such resignations, even if a contract is in place.

Malkin's new agents are believed to be exploring using the same loophole to get Malkin into the NHL this season.

The Penguins have been counting on getting Malkin to join a mostly youthful team that already includes Crosby, who had 102 points as an 18-year-old rookie, and Jordan Staal, the No. 2 pick in the recent NHL draft. The team showed video of Malkin playing in the Olympics on its scoreboard during late-season home games this year in an effort to boost season ticket sales.

Malkin led Metallurg with 47 points, including 21 goals, in 46 games last season. He also was one of the top players in the Olympics, with two goals and six points for Russia.

2006-08-07 16:05:49

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Penguins sign goalie Fleury to two-year contract

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Fleury, the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NHL draft, agreed to the new deal after the three-year contract he signed following the draft expired. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 21-year-old was the Penguins' starting goalie most of last season and had a 13-27-6 record with a 3.25 goals-against average and one shutout for the Patrick Division's last-place team.

Fleury began the season at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, where he was 10-2 with a 1.57 goals-against average, but was recalled by the Penguins on Nov. 28 and stayed with them the rest of the season. He returned to Wilkes-Barre for the AHL playoffs and had a 2-3 record with a 3.48 goals-against average in five games.

In 71 NHL games, Fleury is 17-41-8 with a 3.36 goals-against average. He played in 21 games in the 2003-04 season, going 4-14-2.

2006-08-07 15:21:22

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Coyotes avoid arbitration with Mike Comrie in $3-million US agreement

Mike Comrie re-signed with the Phoenix Coyotes for $3 million US for 2006-2007 prior to a scheduled salary arbitration hearing Friday.

The 26-year-old centre from Edmonton shared the team lead with 30 goals and matched a career high with 60 points in 80 games while earning $1.748 million last season.

"With the larger and more physical team that we intend to ice this year, players like Mike Comrie should thrive," said GM Mike Barnett. "We were pleased to settle Mike's contract without arbitration."

Elsewhere:

-Mika Noronen, opting not to sit on the end of Vancouver's bench as the backup to Roberto Luongo, has agreed to stop pucks for Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian elite league. Agent Jay Grossman confirmed the 27-year-old Finnish goalie's decision Friday.

-Martin Rucinsky's deal with St. Louis, which was announced without terms Wednesday, has been revealed to be worth $1.75 million for 2006-2007 - down from the $3 million the 35-year-old Czech got from the Rangers last season.

-Left-winger Ryan Bayda will stay in Carolina's organization after agreeing to a one-year contract. He'd get $450,000 at the NHL level and $50,000 at the AHL level. The 25-year-old native of Saskatoon had 13 goals and 25 assists in 59 games with the Manitoba Moose last season after missing the first 20 games recovering from a knee injury.

2006-08-04 18:32:55

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