KHL News and Interviews

Alexei Kovalev recently signed a 2-year deal with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, and he confirmed that he still had offers from the NHL.

"I had two offers from NHL teams", 38-years-old Kovalev told Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport. "But I chose Russia."

Kovalev, who played more than 1300 games in the NHL, scoring more than 1000 points, explained one of the main reasons for his move to the Moscow region team.

"The lenght of the contract was a problem. I don't want to pack my suitcases every year. I understood that in North America I wouldn't get more than an one-year deal, while Atlant offered me two years."

Kovalev also explained other aspects of his transfer.

"I didn't play much in Russia. I got to the Rangers when I was 19 and I played in the NHL all my career. It's hard to get used to something new, but I have a profession and I will keep on playing. I am healthy, I still have hands and conditioning. Yes, I'm going to another place, but hockey is hockey. I love it and I enjoy playing."

Former Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers player, forward Fedor Fedorov, broke the glass during the warm-up before SKA St. Petersburg's KHL regular season game on October 16th against Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg.

SKA eventualy won the home game with a 5-1 score, and Fedorov had one assist.

RussianHockeyFans offers you a video of this curious incident:

Belarusian forward Mikhail Stefanovich has been assigned to Dynamo Minsk of the KHL by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dynamo Minsk secured Stefanovich's right as he was a second overall pick of the 2009 KHL junior draft.

Stefanovich, who played for the Dynamo Minsk organization up to the 2004/2005 season, played only six professional games this year, with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and the Reading Royals of the ECHL.

After a couple of seasons in Belarus Stefanovich crossed the ocean to play in the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts and in the 2007-08 season he won the Mike Bossy Trophy as QMJHL's top prospect of the year. Stefanovich spent in the Q also the two following seasons. He also started playing for the Belarusian national team.

Most likely Stefanovich's first game with Dynamo Minsk will be played on November 30 against Sibir Novosibirsk.

Evgeny Artyukhin's contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL has been confirmed and the player is now free to play, Russian press reports. The 27 years old forward's signing was delayed due to some heart problems risen during the first medical checks.

Artyukhin, who will play with the #44, is set to debut with SKA today against Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Artyukhin has been drafted in the NHL by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2001 Entry Draft. In 199 NHL games scored 19 goals and 30 assists for a total of 49 points. He won a gold medal at both U18 and U20 WJCs.

24 years old Karri Ramo is one of the top KHL goalies. His NHL rights were recently traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he's expected to join the Habs during the next summer as his deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL will run out on the next April 30th. In this interview with Ilya Elchaninov of sports.ru Ramo talked about his future plans, about his past experiences with Tampa Bay and about life in Russia.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Vyacheslav Kozlov was officially signed today to a 1 year contract by CSKA Moscow.

The former component of the famous Russian Five joined the Red Army a couple of days ago and will depart with the team for their upcoming away trip. Kozlov will wear the #72 jersey.

Vyacheslav Kozlov was Stanley Cup Champion in 1997 and 1998 with the Detroit Red Wings. Kozlov played a total of 1182 NHL games, with 853 points.

Kozlov: "I'm glad to be back in the team which is almost my home club, and it's the greatest team in Russia. I'll do all I can to help the team fighting for the Gagarin Cup. I think I am in good shape and I'll be able to help my team mates very soon. Recently I underwent the physical examinations and the doctors were satisfied about my shape. I hope I'll be able to play my first game with my new team on Friday against Yugra."

It was reported that also Spartak Moscow offered Kozlov a contract, but Slava preferred the Red Army, with whom he played in 1991-92 and 1994-95.

28 years old Marek Svatos signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL. He was an unrestricted free agent.

The forward was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2001 NHL Draft, and played with the Avs a total of six seasons.

Svatos scored a 164 points in 316 NHL career games. He won the Memorial Cup with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL in the 2002.

Svatos struggled in producing constantly, mostly due to his size and injury proneness. Avangard Omsk now has a good contingent of Czech and Slovakian players, having in their team also Jaromir Jagr, Roman Cervenka and Martin Skoula.

Svatos signed a one year deal with the Siberian team.

The former Washington Capitals forward Chris Bourque, who moved this summer to Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, gave an interview to SportsDaily.ru.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

The story of your signing with Atlant was pretty long. Were you hesitating?
Bourque: "I just wanted to see how it'd turn out with the Capitals. When the situation wasn't clear I had to told Atlant that they'd have to wait."

But then finally the Capitals offered you a contract. Why did you decide to move to Russia?
Bourque: "Things were going the way that I'd not get a spot with the Capitals. I have won everything in the AHL - like the Calder Cup and the playoffs MVP. Besides I was soon to reach the age limit, which would mean I'd have to part ways with the AHL. And since I wasn't completely sure that I'd make the first team, I decided to move to Russia. I got sick of constantly waiting for my chance and then being used to plug holes in the roster."

Quite surprising that the son of Ray Bourque had to ride the pine in the NHL
Bourque: "Nobody in the NHL cares who your parents are. If the coach doesn't like you, you won't get ice time even if you are the President of the USA. And I think they called me to Atlant not because of my father."

As for you father, what was his reaction?
Bourque: "It was good. He wished me good luck and professional growth. He didn't wish me to return soon - I have a two-year contract, and I'm going to spend these two years here. Then, who knows, maybe the KHL experience will help me to attract attention of the NHL. In Russia there is a great school, traditions, strong teams. And it seems to me that I can take a lot from the Russian style."

Why you didn't become a defenceman like your father?
Bourque: "That's due to my frame. In today's NHL defencemen are really strong, and I wasn't big enough. Maybe that's the reason why I didn't get a spot in the NHL. In Russia I'll try to find out what can be improved in my game while not having a big frame."

What can you say about your new partners?
Bourque: "They are really skilled players with great skating and puck control. We are passing a lot here. The team welcomed me really well. I hope to get used to the game style in Atlant as soon as possible and start producing more. By the way, even though I didn't play in the NHL's Atlanta, these consonance gives me comfort. And also they say that the Russian language is something unique."

Do you speak Russian?
Bourque: "Just a few words. Have to master the hockey language first to understand partners better."

Do you have any problems with everyday stuff?
Bourque: "No, not at all. And after these continuous bus trips in the AHL I have just nothing to complain about."

Can you compare KHL and AHL?
Bourque: "Can't go in details yet as I don't have much KHL experience. But in my opinion you can't compare them at all. The KHL is a separate league, the best in Europe. And in the AHL there are farm teams with the purpose of giving experience to youngsters and practice to those not making it in the NHL. The KHL is, of course, a step forward for me."

How ready do you feel for the season?
Bourque: "As for now, I haven't shown even the half of what I'm capable of."

You were already trusted with a shootout in the game against SKA...
Bourque: "Well, shootouts are what I practiced a lot. They are all the same in the NHL, KHL, AHL - come to the ice and shoot. You have just the goalie in front of you, though his level depends on what league you are playing in."

Atlant didn't start the season pretty well. And now you lost to SKA, even though in the shootouts. Are you upset?
Bourque: "I'm actually more upset that Nabokov didn't play against us. I wanted to face him. And going one-on-one in the shootout against such an ace is a special occasion. As for the defeat, I'm sure we will get our points later, I see that we doing better every day. Our coach said that we were doing everything right and that we are progressing from game to game."

Chris Bourque in 6 games this season: 1G, 0A, -2, ATOI 7:31.

The KHL just released the set of rules for the 2010-11 season, and it contains an interesting part, how the KHL will regulate fights. Until the 2009-10 season it just followed the IIHF rules, which had a five minutes major plus game misconduct for any fight. But from the next season it's going to change.

The KHL will give less penalties for fighting, but at the same time they will be stricter. As usual some rules follow the NHL ones, like the rules for the fight during the last five minutes of a match. Probably the KHL managed to preserve the fighting aspect, which can't be erased from the game, without fully allowing it and leaving the fighters unpunished. It's probably a good compromise, but before of any judgement it's better to see how it works out after a few months of play.

After his move from Nashville to Russia, Alexander Radulov has been very discreet with the media. But he decided to give an exclusive interview to Mikaël Lalancette of Le Soleil, in which he talked about his controversial move, about his future and about Quebec City.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Unrestricted free agent Pavol Demitra from Slovakia signed a 1-yr deal with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

The 35 years old forward played in the NHL a total of 16 season with the Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, with a total of 848 NHL games, with 768 points.

Lokomotiv is reported to be in talks also with Calgary Flames' Ales Kotalik.

Denis Bodrov signed a 1-yr deal with Spartak Moscow of the KHL. Bodrov, 24, spent part of the last season with the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL.

After leaving Russia to play within the Philadelphia Flyers system, many were expecting that the NHL franchise would sign a new contract with the defenseman, but it didn't work out and now Bodrov is back in the KHL.

Bodrov, soon to be 24, scored four points (1+3) in 17 games with the Phantoms. He'll play with Spartak with the number 33.