One thing it seems you can count on with young Russian hockey players in North America, besides their high-end skill: intrigue. This is the latest bit of crack investigative journalism from D.C.-based Russian hockey reporter Dmitry Chesnokov:
“There seems to be a perception that Varlamov does not have a contract in Russia. In fact, he does. He has a 3-year contract with Locomotiv Yaroslavl. I asked George [McPhee] about it yesterday, and his reply was “this is not true.” Well, it is. Varlamov told me himself that he has a three-year agreement with his Russian club. Varlamov also said that there is an agreement with Locomotiv that he can leave for the NHL after next season.
“Today we contacted Yuri Lukin, Lokomotiv’s general manager. This is what he said: “The club [Locomotiv] and Varlamov signed a long term contract. Next season he will definitely play for Locomotiv. Next year, as we all agreed, Semyon will decide himself where he wants to play. If he decides to leave for the NHL, how will we be able to keep him? He will run away, like Malkin.
“So this is the current situation with Varlamov’s two contracts.”
Well.
3 Comments
hmmmm. Run away like Malkin…. ouch.
Just a bit of news regarding the agreement between the NHL and the IIHF. Today the IIHF (Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden) signed a new transfer agreement with the NHL that will be in place for four years until 2011. The Russian Hockey federation refused to sign the agreement yet again. The saga continues.
Thanks for the update, Dmitry.
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