NHL FanHouse

NHL Reportedly Upset With Hudler Move

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Red Wings, Western, Russian Hockey

The Detroit Red Wings have suffered a few potentially significant losses during free agency. One of them -- forward Jiri Hudler -- signed a two-year contract to play with Moscow Dynamo of the Kontinental Hockey League.

However, Hudler had previously filed for salary arbitration with the Red Wings. The National Hockey League, as a result, is taking issue with Hudler's move to Russia, saying he is still obligated to play in Detroit.

While the Red Wings haven't commented on the matter, both the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation have.

NHL spokesman Frank Brown said in a statement: "We believe that Mr. Hudler remains contractually obligated to the Detroit Red Wings.''

In an e-mail, IIHF communications director Szymon Szemberg said: "The IIHF has been informed by the NHL about the Jiri Hudler case. Upon this, the IIHF has informed the Russian Ice Hockey Federation about the NHL's position and the case is under investigation. As this is a transfer to an IIHF member league the player will be needing an International Transfer Card (ITC), approved by the IIHF, to complete the transfer. Only upon the IIHF's signing the ITC, the transfer would be finalized and approved.''

Based on the criteria needed to get an ITC, it's a safe bet that this contract won't be valid without further negotiation.

It's not great news for Hudler, who reportedly stood to pull in $10 million from his Dynamo deal. He won't make anywhere near that if he stays in the NHL.

However, it's his own fault. If he hadn't filed for arbitration, his decision to sign in Russia may not have created much of a ripple within the NHL office.

While Hudler doesn't have a contract to play for the Red Wings, the final interpretation of his arbitration filing holds the key to his future.

NHL Reportedly Upset With Hudler Move originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Wings' Hudler Signs in Russia

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Red Wings, Western, NHL Free Agency, Russian Hockey

It's been a rough month or so for the Detroit Red Wings.

They lost the last two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, eventually falling to Pittsburgh in an epic seventh game. When free agency started, the Red Wings started losing players. Marian Hossa (Chicago), Tomas Kopecky (Chicago), and Mikael Samuelsson (Vancouver) signed with Western Conference rivals. Now, the Wings have lost a good young player to the Kontinental Hockey League.

Jiri Hudler had a contract offer on the table from the Red Wings after scoring a career-high 23 goals and 57 points. Since he'll turn 26 in January, Hudler is the kind of player the Wings knew they had to keep, because he can play the two-way game, and his minutes were only going to increase with Hossa, Kopecky, and Samuelsson being gone.

However, Hudler received a very lucrative offer from Moscow Dynamo of the KHL, and he's taking it.

"It's a real possibility he's going to take this (Russian) offer,'' Holland said. "He'd be taking a lot less money to stay in the NHL.''

... Holland said he not yet heard back from Hudler's North American agent, Petr Svoboda, but that if reports that Hudler had signed the Russian deal are true he would "go on the assumption that he's gone."

It's hard to blame Hudler. TSN reports that the Moscow deal is worth $2 million, while Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports that the deal is worth "significantly more" than that, plus it's tax-free.

Kukla's Korner was able to get a hold of quotes from Hudler's press conference, and it sounds as if he isn't playing games with the Red Wings.

In Detroit there is wasn't (sic) place for me and I didn't want to go to another club. So i didn't ask for a trade. Then came Dynamo with their offer.

I started thinking about it and decided to go to Russia. It was tough but this is not a question of life or death. It is only hockey.

The KHL is good league. I should be one of the key players so it could help me in my career. I don't think I will close the door to NHL. I am young and there are still 13 years until the end of my career. I want my career to be more colorful.

In a year or two, Hudler could re-surface in the NHL. For now, it appears he's heading overseas.

Wings' Hudler Signs in Russia originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sykora and Satan to Russia? Not According to Their Agent

Adam Gretz — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Free Agency, Russian Hockey

Let the free agent frenzy begin! Sort of. There are reports surfacing out of Russia that KHL clubs Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Bary's Astana are interested in signing Pittsburgh Penguins free agents Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan.

Any truth to the rumors? Not if you ask their agent, Allan Walsh, who denied the reports via his twitter feed (technology ... amazing).

Said Walsh of the Sykora rumor: I was informed of internet report Petr Sykora negotiating with Magnitogorsk (KHL) for last 4 wks. Totally false. There has been no contact.

And then later regarding Satan: Also, informed of report that Miro Satan received 2 year offer from Bary's Astana (KHL). Again, no truth. Who makes up this stuff?

It's doubtful -- at least in my opinion -- that either player will be returning to the Penguins for the 2009-10 season.

It's worth pointing out that Sykora played for Magnitogorsk during the NHL lockout (scoring 18 goals) and was a linemate with Evgeni Malkin, much like he was during his two-year stint in Pittsburgh. After scoring 28 goals a year ago for the Penguins, Sykora struggled over the final two months of this season, registering just seven points in 32 games. His struggles led to him being a healthy scratch for much of the postseason, only to return for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final. He played just six minutes and suffered a broken foot after blocking a shot in the second period.

As for Satan, he joined the Penguins this past offseason on a one-year deal in an effort to help the Penguins replace Marian Hossa. He tallied 17 goals during the regular season and was sent to the American Hockey League late in the season, only to return for the playoffs and record six points in 17 games.

Sykora and Satan to Russia? Not According to Their Agent originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Viktor Kozlov to Russia?

Eric McErlain — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Rumors, Russian Hockey

Overnight, we got the news that Washington Capitals center Sergei Fedorov had been offered a contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, and now RDS.ca and Octagon Sports agent Allan Walsh (through his Twitter feed) are reporting that Fedorov's teammate, forward Viktor Kozlov, also an impending free agent, will soon sign a contract with Salavat Ufa of the KHL. Details were not disclosed.

This is not the first report that tagged Kozlov as heading back to Russia. A little less than two weeks ago, Russian-language outlet Sports Daily (translated by Japers' Rink), reported that both Salavat and SKA St. Petersburg were interested in bringing Kozlov back to his homeland.

Kozlov, a veteran of 14 NHL seasons who joined the Capitals as a free agent before the 2007-08 campaign, has spent a good part of his stint in Washington working as a right wing on the team's top line with Alex Ovechkin. In two seasons, he had 29 goals and 66 assists and was +19.

Viktor Kozlov to Russia? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 26 May 2009 14:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sergei Fedorov's Career In Commercials

Adam Gretz — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Red Wings, NHL Fans, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

Great commercials in NHL history: A look back at the absurdity and hilarity of NHL advertising campaigns.

The news that Sergei Fedorov is, reportedly, leaving the NHL after 18 years to join Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL is somewhat disappointing to me, seeing as how he was always one of my favorite players growing up in the early 1990's. One of the best two-way players to ever lace up a pair of skates, and part of the Red Wings' famed "Russian Five" line, Fedorov was also involved in some hockey's finer advertising campaigns, including the days when ESPN actually acknowledged the existence of the sport.

Just Do It: In this classic Nike ad from the mid-90's, Fedorov takes on a defender from every team in the NHL, five goalies, and a figure skating couple, and annihilates them all ... and then gets run over by a zamboni.

He's Not So Fast: Fedorov absolutely dominates 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson in a one-on-one race.

One Big Happy Family: Yes, kids, there was a time when ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, actually broadcast NHL games, and here's some visual proof: a promo for a Los Angeles Kings vs. Detroit Red Wings tilt, featuring Fedorov and his former Detroit teammate, Brendan Shanahan.

Sergei Fedorov's Career In Commercials originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 26 May 2009 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Report: Fedorov to Return to Russia

Eric McErlain — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Rumors, Russian Hockey

As was relayed late last night by Sean Leahy at Puck Daddy, Russia's Sport Express is reporting that Washington Capitals free agent center Sergei Fedorov won't re-sign with the club, and will instead opt for a two-year deal with the KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk for $3.8 million per season.

The report, if accurate -- and that's always a question in situations like these -- would come as something of a disappointment to Washington's fan base, as Fedorov became a local favorite after being imported from Columbus at the trade deadline in 2008.

More or less rescued from obscurity with the Blue Jackets by the deal, Fedorov quickly developed solid relationships in the locker room, especially with his younger Russian teammates, wingers Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. That was in obvious evidence at the 2008 IIHF World Championship when the three played together on a line that dominated the tournament offensively, while leading Russia to a gold medal.

If Fedorov does depart for home, the highlight of his stretch with the Capitals has to be the game-winning goal he scored in Game 7 of Washington's first round series with the Rangers, a tally that gave the Capitals their first playoff series victory since 1998. But while the 18-year NHL veteran may have won the hearts of the Washington fans in his short stay in the nation's capital, a more rational look at his overall game could lead you to conclude that he's lost more than a step, something that's apparent after you read an analysis of his season that ran this morning over at Japer's Rink.

Bringing back Fedorov at a salary comparable to the $4 million he earned this season was going to be difficult considering all the players that Washington needs to re-sign -- and that's before the team considers possible deals with Nicklas Backstrom and the aforementioned Semin that could very well be negotiated this offseason.

But again, these are all very big ifs. Late last night when I inquired with my own sources in Russian hockey, I couldn't get any independent confirmation that a deal had been signed. Stay tuned.

Report: Fedorov to Return to Russia originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 26 May 2009 09:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kovalchuk: Caps Will Make the Finals

Eric McErlain — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Rangers, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

Here's Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers holding forth on why the Washington Capitals are going to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Kovalchuk is currently in Switzerland playing with the Russian national team in the 2009 IIHF World Championship.

Thanks to our buddy Dmitry Chesnokov, Washington correspondent for Sovetsky Sport, for passing along the video.

Kovalchuk: Caps Will Make the Finals originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 05 May 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

King James Hooks Up Alex Ovechkin

Eric McErlain — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:14:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Penguins, Russian Hockey

Early last week when ESPN's E:60 aired a segment on the fast life of Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, it was hard not to be struck by a brief and absolutely incongruous appearance by LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. As my friend Greg Wyshynski wrote at the time, it seemed to be something of a reach, even for the WWL, as if they needed to include a clip of James in order to interest any NBA fans who might be watching.

Ovechkin and James met up the last time the Cavaliers were in town to play the Wizards, and Ovechkin took the opportunity to present James with one of his jerseys. At the time, James was a bit chagrined that he didn't have one to give Ovechkin in return, but that oversight was corrected Friday when Caps owner Ted Leonsis strode into the team's practice facility in Northern Virginia with one of the NBA wunderind's jerseys in hand, complete with a personal autograph: "To Alexander the Great: Keep up the good work. King James."

In other news, Sidney Crosby's LeBron jersey is still on back order from Mitchell and Ness. Just like mine.

King James Hooks Up Alex Ovechkin originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 01 May 2009 20:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Trying to Convince the President to Come to a Hockey Game

Eric McErlain — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Russian Hockey

For a number of months now, Washington Caps owner Ted Leonsis has been undertaking a low key public effort to make the new president know that he's welcome at Verizon Center for a Capitals game. This past weekend, the issue came up again, this time raised by veteran play-by-play voice, Mike Emrick.

That led Johana Neuman, a political reporter for the Los Angeles Times who doesn't think much of the local owner's efforts to get Obama out to a game, to throw a whole lot of cold water on the entire enterprise:

"A local sports team known as the Washington Capitals has managed to force the first-round National Hockey League playoff series to a seventh and final game."

She continued: "To most Washingtonians, this is something of a yawn. This is a Redskins town of football nuts, a metropolitan area of Wizard basketball fanatics. Even the Nationals, worst team in baseball, have a loyal fan base. Also it's 90 degrees here. Hockey is a winter sport, played on ice."

Far be it from me to dispute the popularity of the other teams here locally -- though, truth be told, collectively, college basketball is far more popular here than the Wizards -- but one wonders what the Capitals have to do to convince some of the more willfully ignorant that they're starting to matter around town. At last report, local television ratings for the team are up 140% on Comcast SportsNet, while it's also clear that the Washington area has helped drive the growth nationally of the Versus Network, the NHL's home on national cable television.

I sent a note to Nate Ewell in the team's media relations office to get a better idea of just how well tickets sold this year. Stop me if you've heard this one before:

This past season, Washington had a club-record 29 sellouts at Verizon Center.

25 of the last 27 games were sold out;

Washington's 29 sellouts were more than triple the total from 2007-08 (8);

The Caps didn't have their second sellout last year until Feb. 24; since then 36 of the Capitals' 52 regular-season home games were sold out;

The average attendance of 18,097 was up 17% from 2007-08 (15,473) and up 30% from Alex Ovechkin's rookie season (13,905)

The team is sold out of season ticket packages for 2009-10.

Oh, and here's a kicker: Acorrding to Neuman, the Wizards are supposedly far more popular than the Caps. Unfortunately, the numbers as reported by ESPN.com (click here and here) don't support that contention. This past season, the Caps outdrew the Wizards at the gate (1.45 million to 1.38 million), while also selling a higher percentage of total seats available (96.9% to a paltry 82.4%).

While those numbers do help establish some incontrovertible facts -- such as the understanding that the Caps have more than a few fans in town and are kind of a big deal, despite what some might think -- there are plenty of other intangibles to address. Like the fact that the team features Russian winger Alex Ovechkin, the best hockey player on the planet and reigning league MVP. The Caps also boast the presence of veteran center Sergei Fedorov, generally acknowledged to be a future Hall of Famer and also universally loved back home in Russia.

Toss in rookie goalie sensation Simeon Varlamov, high-scoring winger Alexander Semin and veteran Viktor Kozlov, and the Caps aren't just a local story, they're an international story. The Caps have more Russian players on their roster than any other team in the NHL, something I'm sure the Russian embassy would have been more than happy to pass along to a reporter who had taken the trouble to call up and ask.

One wonders why Neuman didn't bother.

Trying to Convince the President to Come to a Hockey Game originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Fedorov Erases 11 Years of Playoff Frustration in Washington

Eric McErlain — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Penguins, Rangers, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

WASHINGTON -- As the Washington Capitals left the ice at the end of a scoreless second period Tuesday with the team tied 1-1 with the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their first round playoff series, the team should have counted itself lucky.

Though the game was tied and the shot count close, the Caps, who had climbed back from 2-0 and 3-1 series deficits to tie the series 3-3 and force a Game 7 at home, had been thoroughly outplayed by the visitors.

How? The Rangers just seemed to want it more. All series long, New York coach John Tortorella had said that he wanted his team to work the puck down low deep in the Caps defensive zone. And on shift after shift during the second period, the Rangers took up residence in Wayne Gretzky's office, continually throwing the puck out front to wingers cutting to the front of the net. If it hadn't been for some otherworldly goaltending by Russian rookie Simeon Varlamov, the Caps could very well have been left for dead.

But in one moment in the third period, an old veteran proved he had something left in the tank, and 11 years of playoff frustration evaporated in a flash.

Capitals 2, Rangers 1: Recap | Box Score | Tuesday's Scores

That moment came with just 4:59 remaining in the third period. There's no reason to describe it when you can just watch it. And thanks to the quality of the video, you can almost imagine that it's 1999 instead of 2009, and a much younger Sergei Fedorov is still playing hockey for the Detroit Red Wings:

"It was just a regular break out. It was two-on-one in their zone. Not much else was going on, so I decided to shoot the puck," said Fedorov. "I stopped and I did it and it went in top corner short side," he said, in just the same spot where Henrik Lundqvist had proven so vulnerable in Games 5 and 6. "Yeah, he's got quite a shot," said a very happy Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau afterwards.

"He came down the wing and beat me with a good shot," said Lundqvist after the game. "That's what happened. The difference between winning and losing a game like this is so small. It's tough when you're that close and you feel like you're doing the right things out there," he added.

But as I mentioned earlier, the Capitals were lucky -- yes, very lucky -- to be in the position to win this game in the third period. If anything, through two periods, the real hero of this game had to be Tortorella, who figured out a way to get his team to forget about the twin blowouts in Games 5 and 6, and got them to recommit to the type of hockey that had won them three of the first four games of the series.

To win a Game 7 on the road, it always helps if you can take the home crowd out of the game early. And the Rangers did just that when deadline day acquisition Nik Antropov scored to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The goal was all guts, as Antropov was the beneficiary of some hard work from Brandon Dubinsky and Sean Avery along the boards and down low, as the pair won the sort of battles that had been driving the Capitals crazy all series long.

But sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, and almost exactly 10 minutes later the Capitals found out just how good lucky can be. Streaking in on left wing, Alexander Semin let go with one of his patented wrist shots. On any other night, the shot might have gone wide, but on this night, it deflected off of Rangers winger Ryan Callahan and past a stunned Lundqvist to tie the game, 1-1 at 15:34. The goal was Semin's fifth of the series.

At that point, the Rangers had to wonder what else in the world they could have done to put down the Capitals, as they had limited the home team to just a pair of shots in the first 20 minutes, yet couldn't keep the lead. It was then that Tortorella and his team uncorked their masterpiece of the series, as the Rangers stifled the Capitals offense, while keeping the pressure on in the offensive zone with a vicious forecheck that never seemed to let up.

But the Caps weathered the storm, and New York seemed to run out of gas in the third period as Washington increased up the pressure, finding their offensive touch once again while outshooting New York 13-1.

"For most of the game I thought we did a really good job of keeping the puck. It was probably the most we kept the puck all series," said Tortorella. "We couldn't develop scoring chances with the puck and during the third period I think they turned it up a notch."

The Washington forecheck was so intense in the game's final moments that the Rangers never had a chance to pull Lundqvist for an extra attacker. "In [the] third period I felt we had more energy. That goal was pretty sick, actually," said Washington winger Alex Ovechkin. "I tell him [Fedorov]. It was very sick."

"It's just one of those things," said Rangers center Scott Gomez, who could hardly be blamed for feeling sick himself. "That's a great club over there. We stuck to our game plan and in the third they took the play to us ... Just one shot -- that's all we kept saying," Gomez said.

But that one shot never found the back of the net thanks to Varlamov, who allowed just eight goals in six games, stopping 152 of 160 shots while posting a GAA of 1.34. In a jubilant Washington locker room after the game, his teammates helped him celebrate his 21st birthday one day late by applying a shaving creme pie for the ages. As you can see below, Varlamov was still cleaning up when we caught up with him after the game:

Up next for Washington in the second round after the first series victory since the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals: the dreaded Pittsburgh Penguins. Let's face it, it's the series the league wants, it's the series NBC wants and it's the series the fans in Washington and Pittsburgh want. Sid and Ovie. Geno and Semin. Last year's savior head coach vs. this year's edition.

Can't wait till Saturday? Neither can I.

Fedorov Erases 11 Years of Playoff Frustration in Washington originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The E:60 Ovechkin Profile

Eric McErlain — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:22:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

Late last week we gave you the heads up on E:60's upcoming profile of Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin. Earlier this evening, ESPN aired the piece, which you can watch in its entirety right here. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that Ovechkin is in rare form.

Fans of Don Cherry, Sidney Crosby and local speed limits will not be pleased.

The E:60 Ovechkin Profile originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ovechkin to be Profiled on E:60

Eric McErlain — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:52:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Media Watch, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

Hockey fans in the U.S. love to complain about how ESPN gives the sport short shrift on SportsCenter, so I guess it's only fair to note that the network's E:60 program will be doing a profile on Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin next Tuesday night, April 21, at 7:00 p.m. ESPN's Rachel Nichols not only talks to Ovechkin and a few of his teammates, she also made time to talk to Caps owner Ted Leonsis, Don Cherry and Wayne Gretzky. Enjoy the preview clip.

Ovechkin to be Profiled on E:60 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Russian National Team to Rely on Washington's Core in International Play

Eric McErlain — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Russian Hockey

Beginning about a year ago, FanHouse has had the regular privilege of working with Dmitry Chesnokov, the Washington correspondent for Sovetsky Sport, Russia's answer to Sports Illustrated. Over that time, Chesnokov has supplied us with a wide variety of original material, consisting mostly of English translations of interviews with Russian NHL players, supplemented with an occasional surprise.

Today, we've got the pleasure of working with Chesnokov once more, as he brings us an interview with Vyacheslav Bykov and Igor Zakharkin, the coaches for the Russian National Hockey Team. With the World Championships just around the corner and less than a year to go before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Bykov and Zakharkin are toruing North America to get familiar with the NHL players who will make up a good portion of the squad.

Last week, Chesnokov met up with Bykov and Zakharkin while they were in Washington to talk with the Russian players on the squad. His story appears after the jump.

Ever since the times of the Soviet Union and the mighty Soviet national hockey team, a lot of attention is paid in Russia to the success and failures (up until last year) of the national team on the world stage. Players who grew up influenced by the attention the national team was receiving, know that for the fans back in their own country winning the World Championships and the Olympics means a lot. For us, Russian hockey writers, writing about the national team is a privilege and an honor, especially when you are presented with a unique opportunity of hosting the Russian national team coached Vyacheslav Bykov and Igor Zakharkin in Washington.

It is the second year in a row that a lot of special attention is given to the Washington Capitals from Bykov and Zakharkin. In an exclusive interview with Sovetsky Sport, which is the only Russian outlet given this privilege during their 4-day trip, Bykov and Zakharkin spoke to us about their vision of the Russian team that cannot be complete without the Capitals' Russian contingent.

"It is important for us to dive into the atmosphere that our NHL guys live in. We get closer that way. We do have to be delicate with the players. But when you see their smiles when you meet - it means a lot," - the coaches told us.

While we were walking together on the National Mall and then up the 6th street towards the Verizon Center, the coaches spoke about the veteran presence on the national team. Sergey Fedorov was the one providing it. If Fedorov is the same presence on the Capitals, fans have nothing to worry about.

"Fedorov helped a lot at last year's World Championships. He didn't have to say anything: from the way he played, the way he acted in the locker room you could feel the sense of calmness and you got faith that everything would be alright. But veterans like Fedorov do not just appear out of the blue. You need big victories. We have the one in Quebec. Until that day not one of our players, except for Fedorov, had won the World Championships or the Olympics."

"Only now do we see the new generation of players who master the science of winning. These boys become men. Kovalchuk is the captain of the Atlanta Thrashers, Ovechkin is getting better every year... These guys are maturing, they are the leaders of their team and are the backbone of our national team," Bykov said.

Sergei Fedorov brought all of his experience on and off the ice to the locker room. If he can be such a big factor in the national team, he is surely one of the reasons the Capitals feel and play as a team.

Lately I have heard a lot of comments from all over the place about Ovechkin being a puck hog, or Semin not being a team player. Well, according to the Russian national team coaches, this is simply not true.

"It is important to read players' interviews correctly. When they say that we're all one team, it is not an empty sound. Not just words. Kovalchuk exploded [with two goals in the final in Quebec], but without the team work his goals would be meaningless. Without Semin's two goals... A lot of people want to see just one architect of a victory. To put a crown on his head, and to sit him on the throne. But this is not a monarchy, but a team sport." Couldn't agree with these words more.

I will tell you more about Semin. Alexander was missing the most recent home game against the Lightning with the flu. For all of those who might think he was "faking" I can tell you that he was not. He came up to the press box to meet with the coaches. Alexander also watched the game from the press box sitting right next to me for the entire time he was in the press box.

He was the one who was really rooting for Brian Pothier to score. "Why him?" I asked Semin. "The guys hasn't scored in such a long time. He has not played in a very long time. He deserves one," Semin told me in the first period. Alexander rooted for his team from the press box. "Tom, shoot!" "What a beautiful play by Brooksy!" "What a pass by Backy!" Semin is a team player. "Man, I really can't wait for the playoffs," Semin told me with a lot of energy in his voice. "I really loved it last year."

We also watched Alex Ovechkin get his 100th point of the season. Alex is really pushing to secure his second Art Ross trophy in a row. The player he is chasing? Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Another Russian. And Bykov and Zakharkin provided an interesting take on the recent Ovechkin-Malkin feud.

"Players are also great artists. Malkin and Ovechkin get a great pleasure from hockey. Their relationship is not difficult, but it had a little envy. But in a good way. It's one of the elements of self-evolution. A rivalry, that pushes both of them to develop rapidly," said Zakharkin. "A positive rivalry, we have to stress. Malkin and Ovechkin are showing that the most important thing for them in hockey is professionalism. One of them is playing for Pittsburgh, the other is playing for Washington. And they will fight for their team, fight each other. It is honesty. Each wants to show their character, wants to win ... We see their conflict as a positive."

Russian National Team to Rely on Washington's Core in International Play originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Cherry's Lecture to Ovechkin Continues

Eric McErlain — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:01:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Media Watch, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

After all the reaction this week concerning Alex Ovechkin's celebration after scoring his 50th goal of the season against Tampa Bay on Friday night, everyone in the hockey world was eagerly awaiting what they anticipated would be an absolute broadside from Don Cherry on Coach's Corner Saturday night. But while Cherry did have some pointed criticism of the Russian winger, his tone was decidedly less abrasive than it had been in previous weeks. Cherry's remarks about Ovechkin start at the three-minute mark.

Cherry's Lecture to Ovechkin Continues originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jaromir Jagr Straddles the Line on Possible Return to NHL

Eric McErlain — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, NHL Rumors, Russian Hockey, International Hockey

A couple of weeks ago, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal kicked up plenty of dust when he reported that the Edmonton Oilers were in the midst of completing a deal that would return Jaromir Jagr to the NHL.

Though he took some heat for his reporting at the time, Staples was vindicated a few hours ago when the Kontinental Hockey League issued a press release that referenced an interview that Jagr gave to Denik Sport where he confirmed that a deal indeed almost did get done. But while the deal didn't get done in time for this season, Jagr later left the door open for a return to the NHL, though he again insisted that a return to America wasn't his idea.

According to the KHL release, Jagr said the following: "Will I voluntarily terminate my contract with Avangard and go to America? That definitely won't happen. Only if the two hockey clubs reach an agreement. But I won't do it by myself."

While that might not seem like an important distinction, it is. Because a player transfer agreement doesn't exist at this point between Russia and North America, Jagr could walk out on his contract and seek employment in the NHL in much the same way that Alexander Radulov did before this season when he left the Nashville Predators while still under contract to sign a deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL.

When I asked KHL spokesman Shawn McBride about Jagr's statement, he said that the KHL believes that Jagr is "a man of his word," and would stick to the commitment not to actively seek a deal with any North American club. Safe to say, if Jagr did decide to go that route, it could very well create an international hockey incident that both the NHL and the KHL might be eager to avoid.

One other possible complication: when Staples originally reported the deal, one source in Russian hockey told me that a move back to the NHL was impossible, as Jagr's entire contract with Avangard had been prepaid. When I asked McBride about that possible wrinkle, he said that any arrangement like that was an issue between a player and his team, and that the league wouldn't have any visibility into such an arrangement.

So the deal here seems to be pretty clear: if any NHL team wants to secure Jagr's services, he's open to an offer, but not until and unless his current club gets compensated -- a courtesy that he doesn't have to give his club given the current lack of an international transfer agreement between Russia and North America. As to if or when we'll hear more from Jagr, McBride said that the winger is currently vacationing at home in the Czech Republic, and isn't due back at Avangard until April 2. Stay tuned.

Jaromir Jagr Straddles the Line on Possible Return to NHL originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

A Rude Welcome to Big Time Hockey, Courtesy of Willi Plett

Eric McErlain — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Russian Hockey, Team Canada, International Hockey

It's been said for years that the way to get a sports fan hooked on the NHL is to get them into an arena to see a game live. After all, it's one thing to "know" that NHL players are bigger, faster and stronger than the rest of us, but to appreciate the speed and violence of a collision sport like NHL hockey you need to get a look at it up close.

Then again, it's another thing entirely to understand just how dangerous a shift on the ice can really be. During my own decidedly mediocre recreational hockey career, I had a near death experience with a slap shot off the stick of a former small-time college hockey player, and after having the life nearly scared out of me, came away with a new appreciation for players who regularly throw their bodies in the path of a piece of vulcanized rubber traveling at better than 100 mph.

Which leads me to the story of an old friend of mine, Jeff Grimshaw, a man who got a chance to experience first hand what it's like to get crushed by an NHL player, something he experienced at the hands of one of the game's greatest tough guys, Willi Plett.

Jeff, a former colleague I got to know well early in my career, now owns his own television production company in Maryland, but back in the late 1980s he worked for Turner Broadcasting. A former college club hockey player, Jeff was coaching a youth team and one of his players was Plett's son, Robby. It wasn't long before Jeff struck up a friendship with Plett while hoisting a few post game beverages as the team traveled throughout the Southeast.

I'll let Jeff pick it up from here:

"In the Summer of 1989 we were aggressively promoting the 1990 Goodwill Games and hockey was to be one of the sports of the 1990 SUMMER Goodwill Games in Seattle. Yeah, that made sense! There was no available international hockey footage to license at that time so we rounded up all of the area hockey players that we knew to shoot close up, swishy, non revealing shots of hits, shots and saves."

"I called Willi to see if he was interested in participating. Surprisingly he agreed - but ONLY if he could play the part of a Soviet Union hockey player and then keep the jersey. I was good with that and we also threw in a token $200 or so. It was also my chance to show my hockey talent (or lack thereof) on camera ..."

"My helmet had a visor, so Willie skates onto the ice and calls for the cameras to cut! He tells me that by wearing the visor I was a total embarrassment to the entire nation of Canada! Off came the visor. Then came Willie's turn for the hitting sequences. He was to collide at near full speed in back of the net with a human sacrifice - er, another player. As we rehearsed I was giving Willie a few tips on how to "Hollywood" up the hit."

"Willie lured me over near him to ask me a question. I should have known something was up when he winked at the still photographer who was shooting for PR purposes. So Willie says to me, "You think I should do it like this?" The next thing you know all of the air rushed out of my chest as I was plastered against the boards. Apparently the entire crew and gawkers knew this was going to happen in advance."

"Now I've taken some pretty tough hits in hockey. I've torn up a knee, broken 2 collarbones, separated a shoulder and have sustained 2 concussions -- but I don't remember ever being hit as hard as the lick Willi put on me."

Thanks to Jeff for sharing his story. For you youngsters out there, Plett is a certifiable legend who was feared by anyone with half a brain who skated in the NHL over the course of his career. To get a better idea of just how feared he was, take a look at a few of the videos posted in this forum over at Hockeyfights.com.

A Rude Welcome to Big Time Hockey, Courtesy of Willi Plett originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ovechkin: 'Your Job, Your Credit'

Eric McErlain — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

You have to hand it to the marketing geniuses at Eastern Motors here in the Washington area. Using their blog and other viral marketing tools, they've been sharing short segments of an upcoming ad featuring Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin -- and we just can't help but eat it up. On Saturday, we shared two clips shot behind the scenes at Eastern, and now, courtesy once again of DC Sports Bog, we have this clip of Ovechkin singing Eastern's famous jingle. As you might imagine, we're eagerly awaiting the finished product.

Ovechkin: 'Your Job, Your Credit' originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ovechkin to Debut in Eastern Motors Ad

Eric McErlain — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:05:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Media Watch, NHL Videos, Russian Hockey

Thanks to both Japers' Rink and DC Sports Bog for pointing to these videos just posted over at the Eastern Motors Blog. From the looks of it, Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has broken through another barrier in the DC sports scene, as he'll soon be featured in an Eastern Motors ad with none other than Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley. This clip, and another after the jump, are both raw footage from behind the scenes rather than the finished ads, which ought to start airing here in the DC area shortly. Watch and enjoy.

Ovechkin to Debut in Eastern Motors Ad originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Don Cherry Throws Down With Caps Owner

Eric McErlain — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:45:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Media Watch, Russian Hockey

The war of words that started last Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada when Don Cherry chastised Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin for his post-goal celebrations continued earlier this evening, when the CBC talking head decided that it was time to fire back at Ted Leonsis after the Washington Capitals owner compared Cherry to Rush Limbaugh earlier this week.

Though video of the appearance isn't yet available, he's roughly what went down. Cherry's comments came toward the end of his regular weekly appearance on Coach's Corner between the first and second period on Hockey Night in Canada. Cherry had already warmed up the viewing audience earlier in the segment when he jokingly referred to Calgary Flames center Oli Jokinen, a Finn, as a Russian -- because after all, it's impossible to tell those European players apart these days!

UPDATE: Video available after the jump.

Next, in a move that will only reinforce Cherry's reputation as a xenophobe, he mangled the Caps owner's last name ("Legonsis"), before questioning his hockey judgment in light of the team's decision to sign Jaromir Jagr to a long-term contract, only to trade eventualy trade him to the New York Rangers while continuing to pay him. He also said he was happy with the Limbaugh comparison.

Of course, Leonsis has long acknowledged that signing Jagr to such an extravagant contract was a mistake, much like Cherry has admitted that he was at fault for the Boston Bruins taking a too many men on the ice penalty with 74 seconds left in regulation of Game Seven of the 1979 Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens. That penalty, on which Guy LaFleur scored a goal on the ensuing penalty to tie the score inside the final minute, cost the Bruins a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals after Yvon Lambert scored the game winner for Montreal in overtime.

So I guess we all make mistakes, don't we Don?

Still, while all this back and forth is getting pretty silly, I can't help but admit to being entertained, and I'm sure the folks on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan at NHL HQ are too. After all, more controversy means more people taking about the game. I'm sure somebody will corner Leonsis at Verizon Center tomorrow before the Caps game against the Penguins -- heck, it might even be me -- to ask about Cherry's latest broadside, and I'm sure Leonsis will respond in his usual polite and understated manner.

And the best thing of all: like most media battles, everybody wins and nobody really gets hurt (for another take, visit Caps Nut). Can't beat that.

Don Cherry Throws Down With Caps Owner originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ilya Kovalchuk Bashes Sidney Crosby

Ted Starkey — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Penguins, Thrashers, NHL Media Watch, Russian Hockey

A lot was made out of Alex Ovechkin's on-ice battle with Sidney Crosby during the Capitals' 5-2 win over the Penguins on Sunday, with the two stars engaging in a war of words afterwards.

Well, Ovechkin wasn't the only Russian taking a pot shot at the Penguins' superstar this week, as Thrashers sniper (and one of Ovechkin's friends) Ilya Kovalchuk weighed in on the whole controversy, dismissing Crosby's complaints about Ovechkin's physical style of play during the game.

In a interview with Russian-language SovSport (and translated by Puck Daddy), Kovalchuk wasn't vague on what he thought about Crosby's recent actions.

Not long ago Washington played Pittsburgh. And Alex Ovechkin showed a sign to Crosby that might have meant less talk. Did he learn it from you? I remember that when [during one game] Crosby was given a penalty and you scored a goal, you pointed at him with your glove, and that gesture became famous in Atlanta.

KOVALCHUK: "These are emotions. Ovechkin did everything right. [You] have to play hockey. Show on the ice what you are capable of. And the weak talk a lot. Ovechkin proved everything - scored a goal and Washington won. He had a full right to his gesture."

Crosby said that Ovechkin is a dirty player...

KOVALCHUK: "Then no one at all should play hockey! The rules in the NHL after the lockout changed considerably. Let Crosby see how [players] played in the league before. Ovechkin's style is emotional, clean hockey. That's why he is the best player in the NHL right now."

As the reporter noted, Kovalchuk and Crosby had a little battle during a game in January 2006, during Crosby's rookie season. After the two players engaged in a couple of skirmishes in the contest, Crosby was whistled for slashing Kovalchuk. On the ensuing power play, Kovalchuk buried a shot from the point, then turned around and pointed right at Crosby coming out of the box.

Kovalchuk also wasn't the only player who took a shot at Crosby this week, as Blackhawks winger Adam Burish also made some choice comments on the star possibly missing last night's game in Chicago.

It should just add to the whole debate raging about Crosby around the game with another meeting of the game's top two icons on tap next week in Washington. Although it sure would be interesting if the Penguins were one of the teams looking to add Kovalchuk next week before the deadline.

Ilya Kovalchuk Bashes Sidney Crosby originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments