With a lockout on the horizon, some players are starting to make escape plans should the season wind up in jeopardy.
Reigning NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin is one of those players as reports out of Russia, as shared by Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, say he will return to the KHL if a work stoppage interferes with the NHL season.
Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gets the low-down from Malkin’s agent about what’s going on with Malkin.
J.P. Barry, who is Malkin’s agent, confirmed that Malkin has spoken with teams in Moscow and Magnitogorsk about a week-to-week agreement that would allow him to play during a lockout, if there is one, but that nothing has been finalized.
The initial report said Malkin would play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, the same team Malkin left to come to the NHL. They’re also the team that sued the NHL to have him come back.
This report comes on the heels of Dynamo Moscow debating whether or not they want to have Alex Ovechkin join them during a possible lockout.