In Defense of Ilya Kovalchuk

It seems that in the past few days there has been quite an uproar in the Devils fan community regarding their star winger Ilya Kovalchuk. Like many of his compatriots, Kovalchuk returned to the country where he learned to skate to continue playing the game he loves when the NHL hit it’s fourth work stoppage since 1992. Joining one of the Kontinental Hockey League’s top clubs, SKA St.Petersburg, he quickly became the team’s star and even took over as captain while scoring 42 points in 36 games.
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Sergei Miledin, January 11th 2013 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League, KHL

Islanders Set to Keep Nabby for Next Season

According to a New York’s Newsday, the New York Islanders are planning to retain the rights to goaltender Evgeni Nabokov for the 2011-2012 season. Nabokov was picked off waivers by the team after signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings but since the collective bargaining agreement calls for players signing a NHL-level contract to enter waivers Nabokov ended up in Long Island. However the newest Islander never donned an Islanders jersey opting to hold out in hopes he would be freed from his contract this coming off-season.
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Sergei Miledin, April 22nd 2011 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

(Updated Again) Despite Signing with Wings, Nabokov Claimed by Islanders


(UPDATE Again) The Islanders have since suspended Nabokov for not reporting to the team. There have been reports of the goalie actually hanging up on GM Garth Snow having mistook him for a media outliet before having his agent return his call for him. Owner Charles Wang has also attempted to reach the netminder to no avail. So as this stalemate stands the Islanders can appeal to have Nabokov suspended through next season so stay tuned to the newest debacle on Long Island.
(UPDATE): Just a few hours after being claimed by the Islanders, word got around that Nabokov would not report to the Islanders. This could determine any future Nabby plans on having in the NHL if he doesn’t change his mind. New York is not obligated to do anything and this could just be a stalemate for both parties. It’s clear they intended for having him with the team but it appears Nabokov envisioned playing for a contender when he left the KHL last month.
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Sergei Miledin, January 22nd 2011 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Evgeni Nabokov Leaves KHL’s SKA St.Petersburg, Where Will He Land?


(courtesy of ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK/REUTERS)

It appears Evgeni Nabokov’s stint back in the motherland is over as the four-year $24 million contract has been terminated by SKA St.Petersburg earlier today. Nabokov signed the contract with the intent of finishing up his career back in his adopted home country after being cut loose by the San Jose Sharks due to cap limitations. The 35-year-old netminder was the backbone to the only team he knew in the NHL and holds every major record for goalies in team history.
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Sergei Miledin, December 13th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Maxim Afinogenov joins SKA

While introducing new signings Evgeni Nabokov and Denis Grebeshkov, KHL and SKA St.Petersburg president Alexander Medvedev announced that long-time NHL winger Maxim Afinogenov planned to join his club for the upcoming season. Afinogenov agreed to join the club for the next five years after the Atlanta Thrashers wouldn’t meet his demands.
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Sergei Miledin, August 9th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League, KHL

SKA St.Petersburg Poach another, nab Grebeshkov

(Courtesy of John Russell/Getty Image)

For the second time in a decade Denis Grebeshkov has left the NHL for the motherland signing a two-year contract with the KHL’s SKA St.Petersburg. While the terms have not been released, it appears it is more than $3.15 million he made last year with the Nashville Predators. You may recall Grebeshkov first left the NHL and the New York Islanders in 2006-2007 opting to play for his hometown Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the now defunct Russian Super League.
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Sergei Miledin, July 28th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League, KHL

Where will Kovy Land? The FRWG Edition

ilya-kovalchuk-kings-stpetes

As we slowly approach week two of Kovy watch 2010 the most sought after free agent of this summer not named Lebron James has yet to pick a team. As much as VERSUS or the NHL network would probably love to air his decision live, I can’t see that happening. It would mean hockey being recognized as a legit sport in this country by those who can only pay attention once a week to their beloved team but I digress.
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Sergei Miledin, July 14th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Evgeni Nabokov says Da to SKA

nabby33(Courtesy of The Hockey News)

On Wednesday, former San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov signed a deal with the Kontinental Hockey League’s SKA St.Petersburg for a reported $24 million contract for the next four years. With the hockey world waiting and watching as the Ilya Kovalchuk saga continued to unfold, the league quietly lost one of it’s elite net-minders who opted to go to a team that would meet his demands financially even if it meant playing in the old country.
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Sergei Miledin, July 8th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in KHL

NHL Set to Return to Russian Soil

20061220203726!Church_of_the_Saviour_on_the_Blood_at_Night,_St._Petersburg,_Russia

It has been 20 years since the NHL ventured to Mother Russia when the Minnesota North Stars and Montreal Canadiens took on the likes of the Soviet National team. Now prior to the official start of the 2010-2011 NHL season the league has arranged for both the Phoenix Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes to take on KHL clubs in Moscow and Riga, Latvia before the season kicks off in Finland and the Czech Republic.
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Sergei Miledin, May 28th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Slava Fetisov to play with CSKA Moscow at 51

slava

On Thursday it was announced that former Soviet Union and NHL great Slava Fetisov would come out of retirement and suit up for CSKA Moscow of the KHL at the age of 51. Fetisov last played in a competitive match in 1998 when he was 40.

Fetisov, who serves as a lawmaker for the Federation Council of Russia as well as president of CSKA will feature in the team’s line-up on Friday against SKA St.Petersburg. According to head coach and also former NHL player Sergei Nemchinov, Fetisov will be filling in for a defenseman who is already injured.

Referred to as the Russian Bobby Orr, Fetisov captured two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and one as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils where he would also play prior to joining the Wings in 1995.

It is unclear whether he will play for the rest of the season but it is certainly exciting to see one of hockey’s most decorated and respected players lace up his skates once again.

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Sergei Miledin, December 10th 2009 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in KHL
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