On Valeri Nichushkin and the Dallas Stars …
Aivis Kalnins: The KHL has approved the Valeri Nichushkin trade from Dynamo Moscow to CSKA. Dynamo will receive money.
Elliotte Friedman: Though not official yet, word is that Nichshkin will sign with CSKA.
Elliotte Friedman: Nichushkin’s agent yesterday: “nothing is done and all options remain open”
Sean Shapiro of Wrong Side of the Red Line: Stars GM Jim Nill from Traverse City confirmed that RFA forward Valeri Nichushkin has a two-year offer from CSKA.
“I’m not going to be surprised if he does sign there,” Nill said. “They know our offer, they know where we’re at. It’s his decision. I’m not going to stop that.”
“The good news is he’s 21 years of age, he’s going to play over there and keep developing,” Nill continued. “I just hope we get a more mature player when he decides to come back over. It’s not the end of the world.”
The Stars would hold the rights to Nichushkin for six more years.
Igor Eronko: Source saying that Nichushkin doesn’t want to play for Lindy Ruff, but he does want to return to the Stars one day. Ruff is under contract for two more years.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: GM Nill has held firm that players coming off entry level deals need to prove themselves before they deserve a big raise. The Stars have made several offers to Nichushkin this offseason, though the numbers are not known. The Stars are believed to want to sign him to a one-year deal. Nill understands if Nichushkin wants to play somewhere else and added:
“He’s only 21 and we’re at a time where it might be good for his development,” Nill said. “My hope is if he leaves that when he returns we have a more mature player.”