NHL Players playing in Europe during lock-out

[hockeyfan1]

Hockey Canada hoping to have several NHLers join Canada's Spengler Cup team, for the tournament of the same name, that begins play in late December.  Among the notable players already playing in Europe are the likes of Tyler Seguin, John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Patrice Bergeron, Brooks Laich, Matt Duchene, Michael Del Zotto, etc.

It could very well be the strongest Team Canada ever represented at the Spengler Cup tourney.

However, there may just be a slight dilemma -- should the NHL lockout end -- there may be a conflict for these players to return to their respective NHL squads (mini training camp, etc.), at a time when the tournament will begin.

Stay tuned.

Source: THN

 

[Stebro]

Nice start for former leaf Brendan Bell in Fr?lunda, 3 games, 5 assists + 5. Cody Fransson is doing alright 3+4 in 24 games -3 for Bryn?s in SEL. To be honest I don't think that he's the type that fits SEL well. Brendan Bell does however. It seems like the North American players that are most useful in SEL are the speedy ones with good passing skills as well as two-way players. Cleary and Horcoff were awesome fits in Sweden during the last lockout.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Canada wins the Spengler Cup gold 4-2 over HC Davos.

Led by a cast of NHLers playing overseas during the lockout -- Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin, goaltender Davin Dubnyk, Matt Duchene, et al for Team Canada, and Joe Thornton for HC Davios -- it made for a star-studded player final, not to mention tournament.

Not since 2007 has Canada recaptured gold here at the Spengler tournament. 

Way to go, Canada!

http://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=412529

 

[maplesyrup]

Maybe it needs a new or different thread but it appears as if Visnovsky is keeping his puck and staying home.

 

[Jalili]

Maybe it needs a new or different thread but it appears as if Visnovsky is keeping his puck and staying home.

I'm guessing because of the Isles trade?

 

[hockeyfan1]

Maybe it needs a new or different thread but it appears as if Visnovsky is keeping his puck and staying home.

I'm guessing because of the Isles trade?

Peobaby.  He wasn't happy to begin with going there playing for them in the first place.

 

[bustaheims]

SiriusXMNHL: Neil Sheehy agent for Lubomir Visnovsky  tells @SiriusXMNHL that Visnovsky will abide by any rule with NHL/KHL. Part 1

SiriusXMNHL: Neil Sheehy also said that if Visnovsky is ruled to come back and play for the @NYIslanders he will.  @SiriusXMNHL

 

[bustaheims]

SlavaMalamud: Kovalchuk talks. "Not in a hurry to get to America... Time will tell (if I stay in the KHL). Nothing is out of the question" #NJDevils

 

[Justin]

SlavaMalamud: Kovalchuk talks. "Not in a hurry to get to America... Time will tell (if I stay in the KHL). Nothing is out of the question" #NJDevils

So Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 15 year commitment to the Devils and is now potentially opting to stay in Russia? What a dick.

 

[bustaheims]

SlavaMalamud: To all asking, the only possible avenue for KHL to keep Kovalchuk/Datsyuk (IMO) is to try to prove their NHL deals are voided w/ new CBA.

SlavaMalamud: This way, they may argue they are not in breach of the KHL-NHL agreement and players can avoid IIHF sanctions. A very long shot, at best.

IgorKleyner: KHL pres Medvedev makes case that existing NHL contracts may not be binding because they are under new CBA, thus players may walk if chose

SlavaMalamud: More Medvedev. "NHL's opinion of itself is so high... OK, let them get drunk on their greatness. We'll see how many Euros look our way"

SlavaMalamud: And more Medvedev. "Our league will act according to our own and international rules. If players decide to stay, we will help them."

 

[Bullfrog]

SlavaMalamud: Kovalchuk talks. "Not in a hurry to get to America... Time will tell (if I stay in the KHL). Nothing is out of the question" #NJDevils

So Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 15 year commitment to the Devils and is now potentially opting to stay in Russia? What a dick.

NHL decided not to honour his agreement for the last few months, now they want to dictate where he plays. I don't blame him. that said, the KHL is partly to blame. They didn't have to sign any agreement with the NHL to disallow NHLers from playing after the lockout.

 

[maplesyrup]

@SlavaMalamud
"I want to stay in St. Petersburg but I have contractual obligations in the NHL, which will be hard to break" - Kovalchuk to Sport-Express

I'm about as big of a fan of Kovalchuk as I am of anybody in the league but my word, this is bad. Not exactly a "team guy." 

 

[Justin]

@SlavaMalamud
"I want to stay in St. Petersburg but I have contractual obligations in the NHL, which will be hard to break" - Kovalchuk to Sport-Express

I'm about as big of a fan of Kovalchuk as I am of anybody in the league but my word, this is bad. Not exactly a "team guy."

He's not exactly doing anything to help the Russian stereotype ("not a team player"). The fact that he signed an NHL contract for 15 years makes it that much worse.

 

[Leafaholic99]

I am glad the Leafs didn't get Kovy now, all the crap the Devils went through to sign him to that long deal, looks that much worse now. He will most likely come back and play, but how is he going to perform now, not wanting to be here, I hope Kulemin doesn't end up going that route in the future.

 

[maplesyrup]

Um, okay?

‏@ByMikeBrehm
Watch: Ilya Kovalchuk compete in pairs skating in KHL. http://usat.ly/UHtLAU

Edit: Sick moves by Datsyuk though. 

 

[bustaheims]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Lubomir Visnovsky, who's under contract to NYI but wants to play in KHL, has til 10 am ET tomorrow to report to NYI or he'll be suspended.

TSNBobMcKenzie: If KHL enforces existing NHL-KHL pact on honoring contracts, Visnovsky likely to return to NYI but key is KHL ruling him ineligible.