Can Leafs keep Kulemin from KHL?

"The conundrum for Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, then, is how much to advance Nikolai Kulemin on the pay scale as a restricted free agent, a conundrum complicated by the looming presence of the Kontinental Hockey League. The KHL isn't shy about directly contacting NHL players under contract as was the case last season when Kulemin found himself in the minors."

Ovechkin Laughs off KHL rumor

"Alex Ovechkin laughed off an article that suggested he would consider bolting the Caps for the KHL because he is upset with the escrow payments players are required to make under the current collective bargaining agreement.

"What?" he said. "Yeah, I'm leaving today. I have a private plane. I heard it for the first time [now].

"Yeah, I'm upset, but there's nothing I can do right now," he added. "Of course we don't want to lose our money for escrow.""

Lightning Assign RW Martins Karsums to HC MVD of the KHL

"The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned right wing Martins Karsums to HC MVD Balashikha of the Kontinental Hockey League today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. Karsums has played the first part of the season with the Lightning’s top minor league affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League."

Could Kovalchuk & Ovechkin bolt to the KHL?

"Could the lure of $20 million a season cause Ilya Kovalchuk to leave the NHL and return home to play in the KHL?

At least one NHL general manager thinks it is possible: "(Alexander) Medvedev is on a mission," said the GM, who requested anonymity. "He’s paying (Sergei) Fedorov $14 million this season so how much do you think he’d pay to get Kovalchuk? Twenty million a season? That’s what I’ve heard."

Kovalchuk isn't the only player in the sights of the KHL. A source told sportsnet.ca Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin is so upset about having to pay 18 per cent of his salary to escrow he is prepared to consider leaving the Capitals after this season. Sources say Ovechkin expressed his displeasure with having to pay escrow during an NHLPA conference call meant to talk about the direction of the organization."

KHL brawl clears benches, ends game after four minutes

"A huge fight between players has stopped a Kontinental Hockey League game after just over four minutes of play.

A pitched battle involving players from Avangard Omsk and Vityaz Chekhov erupted just minutes after the face-off.

Match officials struggled to separate the teams and eject the offending players before the action resumed. Unfortunately, it was the wrong kind of action, as another fight broke out after just seven more seconds of play.

Tempers remained red-hot on the ice, when after more penalties there was yet more brawling. The referee finally scrapped the match, with only seven and eight players, respectively, left on each side."

Kovalchuk reaping the tax-free Russian dollars of the KHL ?

"The Thrashers aren’t going to allow any team interested Ilya Kovalchuk suitors an opportunity to talk contract extension prior to consummating a deal, and there remains very strong convictions at this address that Atlanta’s star scorer will be reaping the tax-free Russian dollars of the KHL next season."