Valeri Nichushkin Reportedly Returns to KHL

(photo courtesy Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sport)

According to Russian media, Dallas Stars winger Valeri Nichushkin is set to sign a two-year deal with the KHL’s CSKA Moscow. The 21-year-old is said to be unhappy with the direction of Dallas under head coach Lindsay Ruff. In 166 NHL games, the 10th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft scored 23 goals and 41 assists. Following a promising rookie season in which he scored 34 points in 79 games, injury saw his sophomore follow-up wash away and his junior year while positive never saw him stick on any one line.
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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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Kuznetsov to stay in Chelyabinsk

As the Washington Capitals equalized their semi-final series last night against the Rangers thanks in part to captain Alex Ovechkin, news this morning reached Caps land that their brightest future star won’t join the team come next season. According to the ever reliable Pavel Lysenkov of Sovsport, Kuznetsov has decided to stay in the KHL for not one, but two years.

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Nikita Filatov Headed to the KHL, Again

(courtesy of Phillip MacCallum/Getty)

It appears the Nikita Filatov experiment has been placed on hold in Ottawa as the 21-year-old and the team have agreed to let the winger finish out the season in his native Russia. Filatov who was traded to the Senators in exchange for a third-round pick failed to lock-up a full-time spot with the Sens and managed only 1 assist in multiple call-ups in a span of 9 games. While with the baby Sens, Filatov had 12 points (7 goals and 5 assists) in 15 games before asking to be sent on a loan to his old club CSKA Moscow.
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D(i)ynamo Derby Live Tomorrow on YouTube

(courtesy of the KHL)

The KHL will be conducting its third stream of a live broadcast this season on YouTube. The match will feature Dynamo Moscow visiting Dinamo Riga. Streaming will begin at 20.30 Moscow time (12:30 PM EST in the US) on the KHL’s youtube channel. Clicking on the “LIVE” button at the top will bring you to their live streaming portion. The previous two games that were streamed are archived here as well. They include a September 12th Salavat Yulaev Ufa – Atlant Moscow Oblast match and a September 15th Dinamo Riga – Atlant match.
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KHL Report from the Motherland

After a somber start, the first 2 weeks of the season have been full of action in the KHL both on and off the ice. We have seen one team dominate its first four games on both ends of the ice, a player with his name on the Stanley Cup decide to sign on to be the captain of a perennial cellar dweller instead of having another go at the NHL, and a player who faces charges for sexual assault and robbery.

After a disappointing second round playoff exit last season SKA Saint Petersburg’s management decided it was time to alter the formula. The team got younger, and much to the objection of the supporters Milos Riha was brought on board to coach the team. Four games into the season the change seems to be for the better. The team is seemingly firing on all cylinders already, especially on defense.
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Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s History Will Not Stop

(Photo courtesy of hclokomotiv.ru; translates to “Our team, forever”)

The headline you see above was a direct quote issued by the president of the KHL, Alexander Medvedev, as he and other officials, both hockey and government, arrived to the city of Yaroslavl amid the tragedy that has sent waves throughout the sporting world and front pages across the globe. From the hundreds of Lokomotiv fans gathering for candlelight vigils to the arrival of President Dmitry Medvedev, the city has been in thoughts of many and in the hearts of millions.

From a Russian hockey standpoint, many of the players both here in America and back in the KHL have connection to the club whether as opponents on a yearly basis or growing up with some of those who perished. From the biggest names in the sport such as Alexander Ovechkin who played with Alexander Galimov, the lone survivor of the Lokomotiv roster, in 2005 at the World Juniors, to alumni and fans in 10 countries which have lost their hockey heroes and icons.
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