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CBA won’t be signed for awhlie … Realignment and Olympics … Kovalchuk played his last KHL game
Mark Easson
John Shannon via twitter: “No formal signing of CBA is being contemplated yet. Still hammering out a Memorandum of Understanding for both sides. Told that there is exchange of many drafts of CBA language which will be attached to MOU. Actual CBA isn’t going to be signed for awhile. Camp and Regular Season will begin with only MOU signed, once Players’ on-line vote is completed on Saturday.
Chip Alexander via twitter: Players started the ratification vote last night. Voting ends Saturday morning at 8 AM.
Craig Custance of ESPN: Realignment and Olympic participation will be looked after the CBA is ratified. One owner said he’d be surprised if the NHL didn’t take part in the 2014 Winter Olympics, but added that the KHL threats to keep NHL players may put a wrinkle in things.
Szymon Szemberg via twitter: SKA coach on Kovalchuk after yesterday’s game: “This was Kovalchuk’s last game with us before going back”.
Slava Malamud via twitter: Malamud’s take on the Kovalchuk/Medvedev quotes: That it is another PR move by the KHL, and Kovalchuk is willing to go along with it. The KHL’s rhetoric has always been “the NHL is scared of us,” and this goes along with their PR strategy.
Eric Macramalla via twitter: Ilya Kovalchuk can’t retire to avoid a break of contract. It would be seen as doing indirectly what he can’t do directly. Also, a non-compete would kick in.