Malkin Officially Resigns....Again
TSN in Canada is reporting that Evgeni Malkin and his agent have sent a fax to the management of Metallurg Magnitagorsk officially resigning from the team. Malkin is utilizing the loophole in Russian labor law, which allows any employee to resign from any position. This move should have Malkin free and clear to negotiate his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on or around August 30, 2006.
This situation is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing hockey stories of the year. Word broke Saturday that Malkin had disappeared from Finland, where his Russian team was to hold training camp, and that he was in possession of his passport, and a Canadian visa. Rumors swirled as to his whereabouts, but there was nothing concrete. A Finnish television station, MTV3, announced that he was seen boarding a direct flight to New York City. Other reports surfaced that he was seen in or around Toronto. Nothing was certain, aside from the fact that Gennady Velichkin, general manager of Metallurg Magnitagorsk, was seeing red. JP Barry, Malkin's agent, later reported that he did not know where his client was, but he was safe.
Velichkin immediately cried foul! Mr. Velichkin stated that the team would sue the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins for compensation. He was quoted by Reuter's as saying: "We've put so much resources, effort and money into Malkin's development as a player. He was our gold diamond, our prized possession. He had a contract with us. We were building the whole team around him and now he is gone. But don't think we will just sit there and do nothing. We will go to court to get what we believe is just compensation." This doesn't seem to be a feasible route for the Russians. Lawsuits of this kind were heard in US courts in the past and were eventually dismissed, most recently last season when a Russian club tried suing the league and the Washington Capitols for the rights to Alexander Ovechkin.
The Russians are missing their opportunity to get something for this asset. Had they signed off on the existing transfer agreement, which would have entitled them to a payment of $200,000 or at least been willing to negotiate something reasonable with the NHL they could have avoided this situation.
From the stories that are coming out Russia, it seems that Malkin exercised his right to give a two week notice back in July, voiding his existing contract. This took much of the leverage away from Russia in the transfer agreement negotiations and caused Metallurg Magnitagorsk team president, Viktor Rashnikov, to meet with Malkin. During this meeting the Metallurg officials played on Malkin's patriotism, most likely telling him that he could not represent his country in future International events. They were also in possession of Malkin's passport and Canadian Visa and were not willing to forfeit this until he signed. They pressured and pressured until Malkin eventually broke around 3:00am and agreed to a new one year deal. Not the typically player/team negotiation as we know it in the "free world." Can you imagine a player in the NFL or even the NHL being forced into something like this? It would never happen.
Many people reported that Malkin was very sullen after agreeing to the extension, including his parents. From his comments, it seems that he felt a certain obligation to come to the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, and looking at what has gone on in the past week, that is what he intends to do. Many believe that he had intended to make his break for North America the entire time, and did what he had to do to get his documents.
Malkin has also recently contacted his parents and has assured them that he is ok. They are saying and doing what they are supposed too in Russia to save face and it seems that the media is eating it up. This is a good thing. Hopefully the Russians will not evict the Malkin's from their apartment or interfere with any business interests that they may have.
Some had been calling this kid weak, spineless or a headcase. I personally think that it took a lot of guts to leave his country the way that he did and to follow through with his desire to come to Pittsburgh. I had heard from a source that Malkin is very confident on the ice, but that he was very indecisive when it came to off the ice issues, well, this is about as decisive as you can get. Get ready Pittsburgh hockey fans the Crosby show just spawned a spinoff and it's called Malkin in the Middle.
This situation is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing hockey stories of the year. Word broke Saturday that Malkin had disappeared from Finland, where his Russian team was to hold training camp, and that he was in possession of his passport, and a Canadian visa. Rumors swirled as to his whereabouts, but there was nothing concrete. A Finnish television station, MTV3, announced that he was seen boarding a direct flight to New York City. Other reports surfaced that he was seen in or around Toronto. Nothing was certain, aside from the fact that Gennady Velichkin, general manager of Metallurg Magnitagorsk, was seeing red. JP Barry, Malkin's agent, later reported that he did not know where his client was, but he was safe.
Velichkin immediately cried foul! Mr. Velichkin stated that the team would sue the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins for compensation. He was quoted by Reuter's as saying: "We've put so much resources, effort and money into Malkin's development as a player. He was our gold diamond, our prized possession. He had a contract with us. We were building the whole team around him and now he is gone. But don't think we will just sit there and do nothing. We will go to court to get what we believe is just compensation." This doesn't seem to be a feasible route for the Russians. Lawsuits of this kind were heard in US courts in the past and were eventually dismissed, most recently last season when a Russian club tried suing the league and the Washington Capitols for the rights to Alexander Ovechkin.
The Russians are missing their opportunity to get something for this asset. Had they signed off on the existing transfer agreement, which would have entitled them to a payment of $200,000 or at least been willing to negotiate something reasonable with the NHL they could have avoided this situation.
From the stories that are coming out Russia, it seems that Malkin exercised his right to give a two week notice back in July, voiding his existing contract. This took much of the leverage away from Russia in the transfer agreement negotiations and caused Metallurg Magnitagorsk team president, Viktor Rashnikov, to meet with Malkin. During this meeting the Metallurg officials played on Malkin's patriotism, most likely telling him that he could not represent his country in future International events. They were also in possession of Malkin's passport and Canadian Visa and were not willing to forfeit this until he signed. They pressured and pressured until Malkin eventually broke around 3:00am and agreed to a new one year deal. Not the typically player/team negotiation as we know it in the "free world." Can you imagine a player in the NFL or even the NHL being forced into something like this? It would never happen.
Many people reported that Malkin was very sullen after agreeing to the extension, including his parents. From his comments, it seems that he felt a certain obligation to come to the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, and looking at what has gone on in the past week, that is what he intends to do. Many believe that he had intended to make his break for North America the entire time, and did what he had to do to get his documents.
Malkin has also recently contacted his parents and has assured them that he is ok. They are saying and doing what they are supposed too in Russia to save face and it seems that the media is eating it up. This is a good thing. Hopefully the Russians will not evict the Malkin's from their apartment or interfere with any business interests that they may have.
Some had been calling this kid weak, spineless or a headcase. I personally think that it took a lot of guts to leave his country the way that he did and to follow through with his desire to come to Pittsburgh. I had heard from a source that Malkin is very confident on the ice, but that he was very indecisive when it came to off the ice issues, well, this is about as decisive as you can get. Get ready Pittsburgh hockey fans the Crosby show just spawned a spinoff and it's called Malkin in the Middle.
posted by Bmetzer66 at 12:26 PM
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