European stuff - August 8th

[fzusher]

http://www.allhockey.ru/news/34318/

Big news for North American keeper GMs who can read Russian ... On October 1st, the KHL will make public information about the length and base salary of its contracts. I am not clear if it\'ll be open from then on, or whether there will be a set period of time that this information will remain public, but at least this would enable GMs to monitor when prospects become available and only give up on prospects not as not coming over when they actually have the choice and decide not to exercise it.

The KHL also decided to limit foreign goalies to 65% of ice time over the season (that is, of all the combined minutes of ice time a team with a goalie not from the countries that partake in the KHL plays, that goalie can only play in 65%). A team that exceeds this won\'t be allowed to have a foreign goalie the following season.


http://www.allhockey.ru/news/34317/


New interview with Radulov, on the occasion of scoring his first goals in his club\'s home rink. Highlights - he is basking in the adoration of the fans, known as among the most fanatic in Russia; is very happy playing in a strong team like Ufa so far; is gradually reacquainting himself to the different size of rink; hasn\'t heard from Nashville and isn\'t thinking about them; wonders: \'I don\'t see what i have done wrong; since there was no agreement between the leagues at the time, I didn\'t transgress anything\'.


http://www.allhockey.ru/news/34300/

Speaking of Radulov, he remained pointless in Ufa\'s loss 1-2 to Metalurg Magnitogorsk (or maybe he didn\'t even play, I don\'t know). Karel Pilar, however, got an assist for Metalurg.

http://www.gshc.ch/

Servette Geneva have announced the signing of Byron Ritchie. He will join players Juraj Kolnik (the team\'s star), Serge Aubin, and J. P. Vigier, and coach Chris McSorley there.


http://www.allhockey.ru/news/34319/

The Caps invited two-way C Mikhail Yunkov, a former draftee of theirs, though now probably an NHL UFA, to camp, but he refused, believing he could learn more from his current coach Milosh Rzhigi. Hockeysfuture once projected him as a 3rd-4th liner.


http://www.allhockey.ru/news/34305/

Cites a Belorus paper reporting that Rangers\' recently signed stay at home D Vladimir Denisov (undrafted, 111 PIM in 66 games for Lake Erie last year) began training with his former Belarus team, but the report indicates this is just to prepare for the North American season.


http://www.sports.ru/hockey/5411697.html
http://www.allhockey.ru/news/34312/

Here\'s a funny one. Just in case rumors of Hal Gill going to Switzerland start floating around ... Russian newspaper Sports Today reported on Sean Hill\'s signing in Switzerland yesterday (the first link above). In citing this report, allhockey.ru mistakenly put Hal Gill\'s name there. I was clued to it when they said Gill played for Minnesota last year :S

[ultrawhiteness]

thanks fzusher, as always.

sure is looking like rads will be sticking over there, doesn\'t it? i wonder, if the IIHF did eventually rule that he has to come back to the NHL, would he even show up? or just sit out in protest?

can you do me a favour and keep an eye out for news of alex perezhogin? how he\'s doing, contract status... that kind of thing. would be much appreciated!

[fzusher]

1 goal and 2 PIM in two games so far. Don\'t know why he missed a game (they played 3 so far). He led the team in points and goals last year, but so far Radulov is doing that. However, it still seems he is playing on a line with Vladimir Vorobiev and Alexei Tereschenko. Tereschenko had 1 point less than Perezhogin last year, so I am assuming they were on the same line last year as well. Radulov is paired with Grigorenko, who only played part of last season. So, essentially, they seem to be going with a 1a and 1b line, which should keep him happy enough (not like Radulov took over his spot on the team).

Personally, I don\'t see him coming back any time soon. He\'s still getting top-6 minutes in Russia, which he won\'t get with the Habs, who are now quite deep on the wings.

Rads is talking like he doesn\'t want to go back, but whenever asked what he\'ll do if the IIHF suspend him from international play, he says he isn\'t thinking about it. Thing is, he just recently paraded the world championship cup in his home town, and likely got a king\'s reception there (it\'s a not too big city in a rural mountain area; think Dan Cleary bringing the Stanley cup to Newfoundlad for comparison). Given his age and emotional actions so far, I think it\'d weigh quite heavily on him to have to miss next year\'s WC and most importantly the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

[Blueorrfan]

Fzusher....thanks for the awesome insight into hockey across the pond...Karma again for you...please keep it up too...

[ultrawhiteness]

hmm, yeah i think there is something to the threat of no international competition. seems like that is a huge source of pride for russians, as well it should be. it would make me think twice.

[lockedge]

Interesting notes, fzusher! Nice to see Juraj Kolnik doing well over there. I still attest that Florida missed the boat on him like they did with Huselius.

And aye, I think Radulov will have issues getting sound sleeps if the IIHF makes him ineligible for the Olympics and World Cup.

[ccsitdown]

Great report again, fzusher!

[gmoney]

http://www.russianprospects.com/publ...article_id=584

I believe this is the Radulov interview translated into English. Man, Trotz must have really pissed him off. If other young Russian prospects start having the same mindset as Radulov, it could be a sad day for the NHL and some keeper GM\'s.

Hey, anyone want to start a KHL pool?