A short post, just to let everyone know that Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin has been found.  He arrived in Los Angeles earlier today, with his agents and escorts.  He is apparently seeking counsel as to how to join the Pittsburgh Penguins in the best manner.

This short session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending.....now.

On TSN Insider this morning, Darren Dreger reported that Evgeni Malkin, Russian phenom and top pick of the 2004 draft, had still not been seen or heard from.   The coach of his Russian league team told of how Malkin gave the team the slip in a Helsinki, Finland airport.  "One minute he was there, the next he wasn't", said King.

Dreger also reported that Malkin is expected to turn up on this side of the Atlantic, with his escort, within the next few hours, where his whereabouts of the past few days, as well as his reasons for escaping, will be revealed to the public.

Technically, by Russian standards, Malkin is not out of line in this little debacle.  According to a Russian labour law, employees are allowed to leave their position, regarless of whether a contract is in place, so long as they give their employer two weeks notice.  It is unclear yet whether Malkin supplied this to his Russian club.  However the team maintains that they will take the Pittsburgh Penguins and possibly the NHL to court for the "theft" of their top players, with one high-ranking official comparing the scenario to "sports terrorism."

That is all the information available at the moment.  Another post may follow when I know more.

This session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending.......now.

As you have probably heard by now, young Russian hockey phenomenon Evgeni Malkin is missing and has not been seen for several days.  The Pittsburgh Penguins first round pick in the 2004 draft apparently fled his Russian league team, with his belongings, passport and, supposedly, a Canadian visa.

The Penguins draft pick had been having problems making it to the NHL, due to his ties with his Russian club.  The Russian Hockey Federation does allow players to leave for America, regardless of whether a player is under contract or not.  Malkin's contract had been shortened to a year, rather than two, before his disappearance.

A member of the Russian team's front office even went as far as to suggest that the Pittsburgh Penguins were guilty of sports terrorism for their continued theft of Russian players being used to play on Canadian soil.  The team will take the Penguins to court over this debacle.

Not even Malkin's parents have heard from him, stating that his cellphone must be turned off.  His father voiced his desire to speak with his son before he makes the jump to the NHL, if he hasn't already done so.

More twists likely to come in this story (it almost feels like Coronation Street).

This session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending....now.