Kabanov called the KHL "an imitation league"

"Moncton Wildcats took a gamble by selecting left winger Kirill Kabanov, a 17-year-old Russian star, with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 Canadian Hockey League import draft in June.

The Wildcats and a Russian pro team were involved in a lengthy battle over who owned his rights and it developed into a story that made the international media. The International Ice Hockey Federation finally cleared him to play in the QMJHL one month into this season.

Kabanov turned down big money to stay in Russia and play in the Kontinental Hockey League, making it clear that his dream is the NHL. He called the KHL "an imitation league'' and came to Moncton under controversy back home several weeks before the IIHF made its ruling."

2010 Winter Olympics: Team Russia

"Nine KHL players have been included in Russia's squad for the 2010 Winter Olympics, four of them from head coach Vyacheslav Bykov's Salavat Yulayev Ufa team.

The preliminary list announced last week is:

Goaltenders: Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes), Simeon Varlamov (Washington Capitals), Evgeny Nabokov (San Jose Sharks).

Defenders: Anton Volchenkov (Ottawa Senators), Sergei Gonchar (Pittsburgh Penguins), Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers), Dmitry Kalinin (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), Konstantin Korneyev (CSKA Moscow), Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadiens), Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars Kazan), Fedor Tyutin (Columbus Blue Jackets).

Forwards: Maxim Afinogenov (Atlanta Thrashers), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars Kazan), Sergei Zinovyev (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers), Viktor Kozlov (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburg Penguins), Alexei Morozov (Ak Bars Kazan), Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), Sergei Fedorov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk)."

Filatov regrets parting words

"Blue Jackets prospect Nikita Filatov regrets some of the comments he made after leaving the club a month ago, while saying that others were taken out of context.

But the 19-year-old winger, who went home to Russia unhappy after being unable to earn substantial ice time under coach Ken Hitchcock, stands by one of his primary reasons for departing.

"I got my own opinion about Hitch and about what I think he thinks of me," Filatov wrote in an e-mail to T he Dispatch. "I am not going to let everybody know about it. I think it's pretty clear that he didn't give (me) a chance and opportunity to prove that I can play.""

Russian players are disappearing from the NHL landscape

"Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin is a two-time MVP and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is the reigning NHL scoring champion.

But the reality is Russian players are disappearing from the NHL landscape. Only 23 Russians (and nine more from former Soviet republics) are playing full-time in the NHL today, compared with 87 total in 2000-01."

Kyle Welwood came close to join KHL

"Fourteen months ago, after clearing waivers, Kyle Wellwood was about to change dollars into rubles and head to the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia before an injury to Pavol Demitra opened up a spot-on the Canucks."

Former NHLer Gerber suffers serious neck injury in Russian league

"Former NHL goalie Martin Gerber, who has been playing for the Continental Hockey League’s Atlant Mytischi, suffered a serious neck injury during a game yesterday that is expected to sideline him for at least six months.

Russian site lifesports. ru reported that a forward from Vityaz Chekhov ran into Gerber during the second period of the game, leaving the Swiss goalie lying on the ice. The team’s training staff examined Gerber, put him on a stretcher and sent him to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the third cervical vertebra.

Gerber’s hospital stay could last up to two months. “The injury is very serious,” said Igor Suvorov, a doctor at the hospital Gerber is staying at. “Martin can forget about hockey for next six months. … Thank God the spinal cord was not hurt and there is no threat to his life."

Viacheslav Fetisov skates for Moscow team at age of 51

"Former Devils defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov played a game for CSKA Moscow Friday at the age of 51.

It came more than 11 years after ending his professional career 21 years after his last appearance for CSKA. Fetisov became the oldest Russian to play in the Kontinental Hockey League, but said he did not intend to keep playing.

"I think that was the only game for me to take part," he was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency. "We have plenty of young guys."

He admitted it was physically challenging, but was praised by coach Sergei Nemchinov, another former Devils player."

Afinogenov never seriously considered KHL

Atlanta Thrashers' Maxim Afinogenov, told Globe & Mail he never seriously considered the many overtures that came his way from Russia’s Continental Hockey League (KHL).

"I wanted to be in the NHL. All my thinking was about being in the NHL. I got many offers from back home, especially from my home team, Dynamo, but I just told them: I want to be here. After 10 years of playing in Buffalo, I wanted to see what was happening on other teams – and to give myself a chance. If I can play, I can play. If not, then it’s not. I think I make the right decision. Atlanta was calling and invited me to the camp and I said yes. I really appreciate my chance."

Kirill Petrov could be Islanders property in 2010

"Agent Alexander “Sasha” Tynjynch told Point Blank today that, although he is not optimistic about Garth Snow’s plan to free his client Kirill Petrov from his KHL contract, he would like to see the highly-skilled wing become Islanders property by the start of next season."