Those sneaky Russians
Thursday, August 17, 2006

Posted by Kerrzy

SO, Malkin was in Helsinki the whole time. I guess the joke is on those of us who spent the first half of the week talking about all the places in North America he might be…in Washington with Alexander Ovechkin is the one I heard the most. Someone talked to Ovechkin, turns out he wasn’t even in Washington, but rather in Toronto, and so the rumor city became Toronto. Malkin was rumored to be in one of five or six North American cities, having flown out of Helsinki on the first flight he could get out of Finland, ditching from Mettallurg Magnitogork in a blaze of glory. “Defecting” – and hey, even I got suckered into using that word.

The answer was right under our noses the whole time!

The first reports had him flying out of Helsinki on Sunday. I didn’t hear one person even question that. You know, when you look at it, it was a pretty slick plan. It’s not like you have to ‘sneak’ out of Russia these days, but hiding out for a week before making your daring escape to North America as you await your visa…is a good story.

I think the only thing that really seperated the whole "Malkin saga" from a good flick is a couple of gun-fights and a high speed chase.

As if the kid doesn't have enough spotlight on him, apparently Montreal has tabled an offer to the Pittsburgh Penguins that is Lindros-esque from back in his short stint as property of the Quebec Nordiques, as far as the number of good players offered.

Imagine that: Mettallurg to Pittsburgh to Montreal.

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Jim Kerr