DeToxRox
08-12-2006, 04:28 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2547782
MOSCOW -- Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins' No. 1 pick in 2004, has fled from his Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk days after agreeing on a new contract, local media reported Saturday.
News agency Itar-Tass, citing a source within the club, reported that Malkin had disappeared from Metallurg's training camp in Finland.
"Malkin secretly left the club, taking his belongings and his passport," the source said. Metallurg officials were not immediately available for comment.
Earlier this week, Metallurg said that Malkin had annulled his previous contract with the club, which would have kept him in Magnitogorsk through April 2008. Instead, he had signed a new one-year deal after which he would become a free agent.
The Russian, who turned 20 two weeks ago, has always stated his desire to play in the NHL, saying he wanted to prove himself at a higher level.
Malkin's sudden disappearance was reminiscent of that of another gifted 20-year-old, Alexander Mogilny, who defected to the United States at the 1989 world championships in Sweden. During an All-Star career in the NHL, Mogilny won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000.
Pittsburgh drafted Malkin second overall in 2004 behind fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin, who took the NHL by storm last season winning the Calder Trophy as the best rookie.
Metallurg, however, had no intention of releasing their most prized asset after Russia refused to sign a transfer agreement with the NHL earlier this month.
Under the agreement Magnitogorsk would have received a basic $200,000 fee for Malkin, whereas the Russian club wanted at least 10 times more.
MOSCOW -- Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins' No. 1 pick in 2004, has fled from his Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk days after agreeing on a new contract, local media reported Saturday.
News agency Itar-Tass, citing a source within the club, reported that Malkin had disappeared from Metallurg's training camp in Finland.
"Malkin secretly left the club, taking his belongings and his passport," the source said. Metallurg officials were not immediately available for comment.
Earlier this week, Metallurg said that Malkin had annulled his previous contract with the club, which would have kept him in Magnitogorsk through April 2008. Instead, he had signed a new one-year deal after which he would become a free agent.
The Russian, who turned 20 two weeks ago, has always stated his desire to play in the NHL, saying he wanted to prove himself at a higher level.
Malkin's sudden disappearance was reminiscent of that of another gifted 20-year-old, Alexander Mogilny, who defected to the United States at the 1989 world championships in Sweden. During an All-Star career in the NHL, Mogilny won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000.
Pittsburgh drafted Malkin second overall in 2004 behind fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin, who took the NHL by storm last season winning the Calder Trophy as the best rookie.
Metallurg, however, had no intention of releasing their most prized asset after Russia refused to sign a transfer agreement with the NHL earlier this month.
Under the agreement Magnitogorsk would have received a basic $200,000 fee for Malkin, whereas the Russian club wanted at least 10 times more.