NHL’s News and Notes–Malkin Willing to Defy NHL in 2014

Evgeni Malkin says he plans on leaving the NHL in 2014 to play in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  Washington Capitals superstar forward Alex Ovechkin already made that pledge, causing ripples through the hockey community because the NHL might not sanction the Olympics past 2010.  In an interview given, Malkin said that it is his dream to play in the Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  Malkin said he will even pay an NHL fine, if needed, to play in Russia.

The St.Louis Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo and Darryl Sydor appeared to be competing against each other for a spot on the team, both of them appear to be locks to make the squad — at least for the early part of the season.  Sydor is a much-needed veteran on the blue line, with Eric Brewer unavailable and Jay McKee gone.   Pietrangelo, the Blues’ top prospect, will at least get a nine-game tryout early on in the season because that will still allow him to be returned to his junior team without starting his NHL clock.

Washington Capitals’ stars Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Mike Green all got their first action of the season yesterday, and they all looked rusty.  Their timing was off and they all looked sluggish, I guess that’s why you have preseason games.  The Caps are hoping this year to overcome the hump that has been preventing them from getting to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Last year they blew a chance to advance in the playoffs when they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup winner, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Marian Gaborik made his debut for the New York Rangers against the Detroit Red Wings yesterday, and coach John Tortorella finally got to insert his new winger into the lineup.  Gaborik, who sat out the first four preseason games with a sore groin, played alongside newly acquired Vaclav Prospal and Christopher Higgins.  But Higgins played well with Chris Drury and Ales Kotalik in previous games, so it could be a sign that Tortorella is still experimenting with different combinations.