Fri Jun 20 14:06:58 2008

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IIHF calls Malkin report unsubstantiated

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Zurich, Switzerland (Sports Network) - The International Ice Hockey Federation called a Friday report from the Toronto Star "unsubstantiated" regarding a Russian league trying to acquire the services of Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin.

The newspaper report indicated several teams in Russia's Continental Hockey League want to have the services of Malkin and would offer him a contract by making him the highest-paid player - by a wide margin.

The Star reports Russian teams are poised to offer Malkin a multi-year deal worth at least $12.5 million (USD), and that would be tax-free per season. That means the offer would be equivalent to about $15 million per season in the NHL.

"Although there will be no imminent Player Transfer Agreement between the IIHF and the NHL, all involved parties are in principal agreement to honor each other's contracts," IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement. "The NHL has informed the IIHF that this will be the policy of the league during the period without a PTA, and conversely, the IIHF has obligated its member national federations and leagues to do the same in its relations with the NHL.

"We would view any signing, from either side, of a player under a valid contract, who does not have any legally valid out-clause, to be a clear violation of the mutual understanding and existing principle. It would potentially be punishable with suspended national team eligibility and suspension from all competition or activity organized by the IIHF or any IIHF member national association. This would include events like the Olympic Winter Games, the IIHF World Championship or international club competitions like the Champions Hockey League.

"Given this, we are confident that the report is not substantiated."

Malkin, who will turn 22 at the end of July, was the second overall pick of the 2004 draft. He was born in Magnitogorsk, Russia and played in his native country until joining the Penguins for the 2006-07 season.

More than a year ago, a United States District Court dismissed the two complaints filed by the Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Super League against Malkin and the Penguins. Metallurg filed the two suits against the Penguins after Malkin fled Russia in August 2006 to sign with the Penguins. The Russian club claimed that they still had a valid contract with the then 20-year-old Malkin.

The National Hockey League released a statement in September 2006 contending that Malkin followed the Russian labor laws in discharging himself from his Russian team contract.

In his rookie season with the Penguins, Malkin lived up to expectations, tallying 25 goals and 30 assists.

Malkin was in the running for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, but finished behind winner Alexander Ovechkin of Washington. Malkin ended second in scoring in 2007-08 with 47 goals and 59 assists. He and fellow star Sidney Crosby, who won the Hart last season, form the best young 1-2 scoring punch in the league for Pittsburgh, which lost in six games in the Stanley Cup title round to Detroit.