Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Russian media filling the week’s rumor pages

russian_tribute_hockey

2006 Russian Hockey tribute game in Red Square, Moscow

It’s hard to believe that just over 25 years ago, one got little or no news of any kind out of the Soviet Union.

Back then, Pravda was the official paper of the Kremlin.

What was stated in that paper was all the western world, and the eastern world for that matter, got to read about.

Turning the clock forward, the media flood gates have opened.

With today’s communication tools, hockey rumors flood the internet from Russia just as fast as they do in North America.

In just 48 hours, it was revealed through Russian sources, that Sergei Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov will make the jump to the KHL next season.

In a reverse trend, they also revealed that Alexei Yemelin is looking to negotiate with the Montreal Canadiens.

Now it’s revealed, by Sovietskiy Sport , that the Montreal Canadiens have offered Alex Kovalev a one-year, $6 million deal.

One of the stipulations of the deal is that Kovalev would be named captain.

That would indicate that negotiations are off with current Captain Saku Koivu.

Interesting to note that the post also indicates that Mike Komisarek turned down a $4 million offer by the Canadiens and is looking for $6 million.

The reverse defection of Fedorov and Kozlov can hold water, but both the Kovalev and Komisarek stories will stay afloat as well as the Kursk did.

russiancartoon The way Russian journalism once viewed the NHL. This cartoon appeared in the Russian paper Pravda after the Flyers-Russia game in 1976.

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