More Malkin...

In a story on ESPN today it looks like Malkin's Russian club is going to play hardball with the Pens.

ESPN May 1, 2006
But Magnitogorsk general director Gennady Velichkin threatened to go to court if Pittsburgh does not buy out Malkin's contract.

"We're not asking for [$900,000] compensation from Penguins. Such a sum is a handout and we're not interested in handouts," Velichkin told the Russian media.

"Put simply, they must buy his contract from us."

I think that the Russian club is going to lose this either by the Russian Fed signing an agreement with the NHL or by the Pens simply not having the money to pay their ransom.

Also in the same story it looks like Malkin is on the Pens side in this and will probably help the Pens in anyway that he can.

"I've already made up my mind for next season -- I'll be leaving for the NHL. I'm 100 percent sure of that," Malkin, who has a contract with Metallurg through 2008, was quoted as saying by Sport-Express newspaper.

So if all the other contracts that have been voided in the courts with other Russian players holds to form, I don't think Metallurg Magnitogorsk can stand in the way much.

I hope...