KHL, NHL, Russian Prospects and Team Russia

Viktor Tikhonov's father, Vasiliy, gave an interview to a Russian newspaper Sport-Express where he stated that the Coyotes want Tikhonov to come back to the North America.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

- Were there any problems with the Coyotes when Viktor decided to leave for the KHL?
- Yes. In Viktor's contract with the Coyotes there is a clause saying that he can return to Russia if he gets sent to the AHL. We used this clause and now he is going to play for Severstal of the KHL on a loan basis. But recently we have been contacted by the Coyotes, they want Viktor to return to the North America*. They say he has a contract.

- Is he going to return?
- No. We want him to play in the new Russian league. We hope Viktor will do great there.

Update:
* - in the original post I wrote 'return to Phoenix' and some visitors thought that the Coyotes' would grant him ice time in the NHL. Now I changed it to 'return to the North America' because this is what actually was written in the original interview. Beg your pardon.

Alexander Medvedev, the president of SKA St. Petersburg and the KHL, in an interview with Russian newspaper Sport-Express stated that SKA is going to offer Ilya Kovalchuk a contract.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of this brief interview.

- We do have an interest in Kovalchuk. We know that the Thrashers are going to offer him the maximum salary within the limits of the salary cap. But there are differences between the tax systems in the USA and Russia so our offer can turn out to be better. It's up to Kovalchuk to decide where to continue his career.

- Have you talked with Kovalchuk already?
- We're talking!

Nikita Filatov had an interview with eurosport.ru website in which he talked about his return, his opinion about his path towards the NHL and about his future.
RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting questions and answers.

Former NHL defenceman Sergei Zubov, currently playing for SKA St. Petersburgh of the KHL, answered to fans' questions on Russian site sportbox.ru.

He talked about his moving from Dallas to St. Petersburg, differences between NHL and KHL, what would his dream team look like and his chances to play on the Olympics in Vancouver.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting questions and answers.

After stating that the Olympic starter should be Evgeny Nabokov, team Russia assistant coach Igor Zakharkin makes an u-turn and says that the first goalie will be known in February only.
Russian Hockey Fans offers you a translation of an interview with Sovietskiy Sport interview in with Zakharkin speaks about goalies' chances and about Ovechkin's need not to change his style.

Today coach Vladimir Plyuschev released the extended list of the players called for the WJC. Nikita Filatov is there, as well as Evgeny Grachev, who recently has been ruled out by the Rangers. Kirill Kabanov isn't part of the roster.

In this interview with Sovietskiy Sport, Team Russia's assistant coach Igor Zakharkin stated that Evgeny Nabokov will most likely be the starting goalkeeper in Vancouver. He also indicated that they plan to reunite the famous ZZM (Zaripov, Zinoviev, Morozov) line.

- Did you have talks with Evgeny Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov? Did you talk with Evgeny Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov? Who of them will have to be a backup goalie and resign himself to this decision?
- There can't be two first goalies in a game and there is no doubt that Evgeny Nabokov should be the starter. He's a great goalkeeper with undeniable qualities. He excellently commands the defense. He’s a player with a winning soul who can turn up the team’s spirit. All this makes in my sight Evgeny Nabokov a first goalie.

The New York Rangers refuse to allow Evgeny Grachev, currently playing for their AHL team Hartford Wolf Pack, to participate in the upcoming World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, says the official Russian Hockey Federation site.

Yesterday the Rangers sent a fax to RHF where they say that Grachev can't go the WJC because he is expected to play in official games during the time the championship will take place.

Russian Hockey Federation plans to appeal to the IIHF for explanation.

KHL announced an opening of the All-Star Game website, also available in English, where fans can select the starting lineups.

The Press Release:

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) today launched www.khlallstar.ru, the official Web site for the 2010 KHL All-Star Game. This new site, available in English by clicking on “English” above the main KHL All-Star Game logo on the front page, features all relevant news and information for the League’s second All-Star Game, scheduled for Saturday, January 30, 2010, in Minsk, Belarus.

Visitors to the site will find a wide variety of content, including news and ticket details, schedule information on the planned hockey festival that will be held in conjunction with the KHL All-Star Game, a countdown clock to face-off time and a photo gallery of last year’s game. More information will be added regularly in the coming weeks, as well.

Simultaneously with the launch of KHL All-Star Game Web site, the KHL kicked off fan voting to determine the starting lineups, including two goalkeepers, for each team that will participate in what is sure to be a thrilling confrontation on the ice of the new Minsk Arena.

Alexander Ovechkin talked to media about his knee injury after skating for 4 minutes in today's practice before leaving the ice.

It's not a bad injury. I thought it was going to be worse, but thank God I can walk, I can skate. Of course, it's a little bit sore, but it's not that serious.

I can do nothing about it. It's just a moment of the game. I turned and realize I don't have time to stop.

Why do I have to listen to somebody who say, 'Hey, you have to change your game, and somebody going to kill you'. Well, nobody going to kill me. I just play my game and I just enjoy my time and I enjoy my life. It's me, and it is what it is.

The Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau says that it is hard to tell Ovechkin to change the way he plays, reports Corey Masisak of The Washington Times in his twitter.

He's pretty reckless. It is hard telling a guy who scores 60 goals a year to change the way he plays. At the same time, you don't want to see him getting hurt. Maybe he needs to pick his spots a little better.

I just don't want him to put himself in harm's way. I don't think anything being said will change the way he plays. I don't think there is a malicious bone of him trying to hurt anybody. He just plays hard and he plays to win every shift. It is a really fine line between taking that away from him and I don't see how you can take it away without talking to him.

Alexander Ovechkin, who got injured in Monday's game after going knee-on-knee with Tim Gleason, skated on ice for about four minutes during today's practice, reports Corey Masisak of The Washington Times in his twitter.

Alex Ovechkin is on the ice right now, but not in full equipment -- just gloves, stick and skates.

Well, Alex Ovechkin's time on the ice this morning last about four minutes. He did bend his knee a few times, but not much.