MOSCOW (AP) -- Evgeni Malkin, the
Pittsburgh Penguins' No. 2 draft pick in 2004, has re-negotiated a deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk that will keep him at the Russian club for another year.
The deal could open the door for Malkin for joining the Penguins' after next season.
In a statement posted Monday on its Web site, Metallurg Magnitogorsk said Malkin and the team agreed late Sunday to cancel Malkin's previous two-year contract. The new deal allows the 20-year-old center to become a free agent in 2007.
Malkin, who led the Russian team last season in scoring, has yet to play for the Penguins due to the NHL's past labor problems and disputes with the NHL and the Russian league.
Russia's preference for negotiating fees on a player-by-player basis, rather than accepting a transfer agreement worked out between the International Ice Hockey Federation and other European countries with pro hockey, torpedoed the Penguins' hopes of Malkin playing with them this past season.
The Penguins have until June 1, 2008, to sign Malkin or relinquish his NHL rights.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...sia/index.html
08-08-2006, 10:50
No Pens for Malkin 
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