INSIDE HOCKEY

Retired superstar Mario Lemieux put his arm around Evgeni Malkin’s shoulder and together they held up the Penguins jersey bearing Malkin’s name and number 71. The nervous youngster broke into a smile as Lemieux patted him on the shoulder, and kept on smiling as he pulled the sweater over his head. The crowd applauded and Malkin joined in. The newly-signed Penguin doesn’t speak much English as of yet, but the applause cut through the language barrier. Loosely translated, it meant that the 20-year-old Russian was as happy to have finally arrived in Pittsburgh as the Penguins were to have him.

Earlier that morning of Tuesday, September 5, Malkin signed his first National Hockey League contract with the team that drafted him second overall in 2004. As recently as a month before, however, it seemed that Malkin would be waiting even longer to realize his dream of playing in the NHL. On August 7 at 3 a.m., Malkin signed a one-year contract to stay with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Super League, after team officials came to his family’s house to pressure him. Malkin reportedly went to bed in tears that night, but it wasn’t long before he formulated a plan.

“The next day after I signed the contract, I felt very upset and looked forward to leaving as soon as I could,” he said through translator Olga McQueen. “That’s why I phoned (agent) J.P. Barry and asked for help.”

Barry and fellow agent Pat Brisson were ready to assist. Just five days later, Malkin took advantage of the first time he had access to his passport, which the team had been holding, to disappear while on a training trip to Finland. He stayed in a secret apartment in Helsinki for a few days as he waited to obtain his visa, and then filed a customary two weeks’ notice with Metallurg.

Under Russian labor law, an employee is permitted to leave his job after serving two weeks notice, even if he is under contract, but Metallurg director Gennady Velichkin rejected Malkin’s notice as a “crude falsification” and claimed to have thrown it in the trash. Malkin surfaced in Los Angeles on August 17th, when he began working out with a group of NHL players, and finally arrived in Pittsburgh on the evening of September 4th. Although Malkin’s actions could have proved dangerous to his safety, or that of his family in Russia, the youngster said he did not believe they were in any danger of physical harm.

“I definitely was a bit concerned, but I knew that we were fine,” he said. “Knowing Mr. Velichkin for so many years, I had the feeling he wouldn’t go for any harsh measures toward me. After I had my visa obtained, I phoned my parents and informed them that everything was fine and I was doing great, and they contacted Mr. Velichkin and now they’re on good terms.”

It has been reported in the Russian newspaper Zhizn, however, that Malkin’s parents have encountered enough backlash from bitter fans in Magnitogorsk that they plan to sell their home there.

“I can understand my fans (in Russia) pretty well,” Malkin said. “When I signed the contract with Metallurg, they felt very happy about me staying in Russia and playing for the club. After what happened, I’m sure they became upset, but later on I got the chance to phone a few friends of mine and explain what was going on.”

“It was my dream to come here and play for the Pittsburgh Penguins,” he continued. “Despite everything that was going on, I was always open regarding my desire to come to North America and to become one of the best here. My friends understood me and I’m very grateful to them for their support. Now I keep in touch with them and my family in Russia, and I know that everything will settle down.”

The controversy may not settle down just yet. A three-member arbitration committee of the Russian Hockey Federation is currently deciding whether Malkin breached his contract there; a decision is expected on September 15th. Agent Barry expects a legal challenge from Metallurg, but believes Malkin has a strong case due to signing the one-year contract under duress and submitting the proper two weeks notice.

“I think we’ve seen in the last couple years without a transfer agreement” between the Russian Hockey Federation and the NHL, said Barry, “that there have been legal steps taken to try and impede players. I expect that something will happen in the next month, but based on the opinions that we’re receiving, we feel very strong with the steps that we’re taking under Russian law.”

At the very least, Metallurg is bound to make a case for financial compensation at a level befitting the loss of a player Velichkin once referred to as a “national treasure.”

Malkin, however, prefers to focus on the future rather than the events of his recent past. On his first night in Pittsburgh, he was Lemieux’s dinner guest which made for “a very special evening for me,” said Malkin. “To meet Mario, it was like a dream come true. To tell the truth, I felt a bit nervous but I was welcomed so greatly that I became very thankful to Mario for his hospitality. It was very fantastic.”

He also had the opportunity to meet new teammate Sidney Crosby. “I was very much impressed with his friendliness, he’s an easygoing young man,” said Malkin. “He promised to help me and provide me with support, and it was very kind of him. I also watched Sidney skating this morning, and it was a tremendous experience for me because he is definitely one of the most powerful players in the NHL today.”

Malkin expressed excitement at joining a Penguins roster filled with youth and potential such as Crosby’s, and said he felt instantly accepted by his new teammates.

“Today I had my first skate at the rink, and I enjoyed it very much,” Malkin said. “The team consists of young players mainly, and all of them have a great sense of humor and are so friendly to me. I really appreciated the way they were kidding around and accepted me nicely. Everything went so great.”

Malkin added that he is staying with a fellow Russian in Pittsburgh, Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar, and is thankful for the opportunity to have Gonchar’s support as he adapts to his new surroundings. Although he hadn’t had much time to explore his new hometown yet, Malkin said his initial impressions of the city were “very impressive. I’m really happy to be here today.”

The addition of Malkin gives the Penguins and their fans plenty of reason to be happy, too. “It is a very exciting day for the organization,” said general manager Ray Shero. “We commend Evgeni on his courage for coming to Pittsburgh to pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the National Hockey League, and this is going to be a great opportunity for him.”