Evgeny Kuznetsov denied on a breakaway by Dynamo’s Alexander Yeremenko during the Gagarin Cup Finals (Photo credit: R-Sport)

Sport-Express is reporting a potential trade between Dynamo Moscow and Traktor Chelyabinsk involving Evgeny Kuznetsov, one of the KHL’s brightest stars and a prominent Caps prospect. According to one of  Russia’s most popular sports publications, Kuznetsov may follow two other young forwards, Valery Nichushkin and Maxim Karpov, who have already been traded from Chelyabinsk to Moscow.

From Sports-Express:

After Valery Nichushkin and Maxim Karpov, another Traktor player may move to Dynamo: Evgeny Kuznetsov. According to [Sport-Express'] information, blue-and-whites [Dynamo] have started talks with Traktor about buying the rights and contract of the 2012 World Champion and 2011 World Junior Champion. Kuznetsov is currently with the Russian national team at the World Championships, but hasn’t been placed on the finalized roster yet.

If this rumor is true, Traktor is in a state of upheaval, and it’s possible Evgeny Kuznetsov may be headed to Washington sooner than planned– or not at all.

This would be a curious twist in Kuznetsov’s career. As a hometown favorite in Chelyabinsk, it seemed unlikely that Traktor would trade him away. But after selling Nichushkin and Karpov and not retaining the services of Deron Quint, it’s apparent that Traktor is shaking things up. It’s not quite a fire sale yet, but it may be one soon. As Sports.ru blogger Igor Eronko put it, Dynamo Moscow is in talks to acquire basically all of Traktor Chelyabinsk.

If Kuznetsov does get traded, his contract with Traktor (with one year remaining) will become inactive, and Kuznetsov will be obligated to sign with Dynamo on the same terms. If he does not sign, his rights in the KHL/VHL/MHL system will be held by Dynamo organization, and he’ll be considered a “conflict” player (KHL Legal Regulations, chapter 5, article 35, paragraph 5 and chapter 3, article 11, paragraph 1).

That means Kuznetsov might be able to sign with the Capitals this year. Situations like this have happened before. Last year, Metallurg Magnitogorsk traded Juhamatti Aaltonen to Traktor. Aaltonen then refused to sign with his new club and was assigned “conflict” status. He played the season in the Swedish Elitserien with Rogle BK. On the other hand, the KHL-NHL’s “Memorandum of Understanding” is not entirely clear on how this situation might resolve.

As you might remember, Dynamo advisor Alex Ovechkin (who moonlights as a hockey player) has publicly said that Kuznetsov made the wrong decision in staying in Russia for two more years.

Ovechkin, Komarov, and some body parts of Backstrom during their stint with Dynamo. (Photo credit: HC Dynamo)

On Wednesday, Dynamo Moscow beat Evgeny Kuznetsov‘s Traktor Chelyabisnk to win the Gagarin Cup for the second straight year. After the win, some Russian media outlets reported that Alex Ovechkin‘s name will be engraved on the Cup as he played in more than half of the regular season games with Dynamo. Ovi also said he’s going to get a championship ring.

Today those same outlets, Sovetsky Sport particularly, pulled a CNN and denied their own report (and unpublished the original stories), claiming that Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Leo Komarov doesn’t fit the definition of “loaned” players. A loaned player in the KHL is a player who was sent down to a minor professional league like the VHL. Since their contracts were voided when the three went back to the NHL, the number of games played is irrelevant. Technically, Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Komarov are no longer part of Dynamo.

Later, Sovetsky Sport contacted Dmitry Kurbatov, KHL’s director of sports events organization, to clear up the situation. Read this and let us know if this actually clears up anything.

There’s a requirement for the number of games played in sports regulations for a player to have his name engraved on the Gagarin Cup. But there’s another paragraph. A few people, at the club’s discretion, may get included in the champions list as well. Simply said, Dynamo has enough legal base to write Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Leo Komarov in that list.

So, you can write in whomever you want, including the players?

You can even write in both of us.

If Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Komarov will get written in, will they be officially considered Russian national champions? [Ed. Note - The KHL champion is also considered the Russian national champion as the KHL has rights to conduct national championships by the Russian Hockey Federation. For example, prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov has a silver medal for making the finals this year and bronze for playing in the conference finals last year].

They will be Gagarin Cup winners. I’m not ready to say anything about the Russian national championship as that is held under the unified plan of sports events approved by sports minister [Vitaly] Mutko. Same as whether they will be given sports titles for a win. [...] This is not our question at all.

So they may not receive a medal?

Usually, Russian Hockey Federation has a pack of medals – 40-45. Then they try not to interfere with the club’s internal policy.

Sports.ru’s blogger Dmitry Feschenko, however, questions the legal side of the KHL’s actions. He points out that the paragraph Kurbatov cited actually reads: “[Eligible for getting their names engraved on the cup are] five executives and six other representatives of the club”.

Feschenko writes:

Ovechkin is OK here – he has a position as the club president’s advisor, and as that his name can make the Cup and could last year, too, but not as the player Alex Ovechkin. The more interesting is in what way do Toronto Maple Leaf Leo Komarov and Washington Capital Nicklas Backstrom represent Dynamo? What are their positions? Or can we really engrave some stranger’s name on the Cup? If so, it’s sad and that way the Gagarin Cup will never become an important trophy.

Just like with the Stanley Cup, KHL players also get to spend a day with the Gagarin Cup. Ovechkin, probably will, as he spends his time in Moscow during the summer. But what about Backstrom?

There are still a lot of questions and few answers.

Dynamo forward Denis Kokarev celebrating the victory. (Photo credit: RIA Novosti/Alexey Filippov)

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom‘s former KHL team, Dynamo Moscow, has beat Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Traktor Chelyabinsk 3-2 in overtime to secure a championship win in game 6 of the Gagarin Cup finals, taking the hardware home for the second straight year.

Despite a few good chances, Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov, was held without a point. Kuznetsov had eleven points in 25 games during his team’s long playoff journey.

Back in Washington, Ovechkin and Backstrom shared their happiness via Twitter.

Chempioooni chempioooooni ole ole ole…….!!!!!Dynamo Moskva…………

— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) April 17th 2013

Congrats to dynamo Moscow! Great team,organization and guys! Well deserved.Molodci rebiata!!Dynamo chempion!

— Nicklas Backstrom (@backstrom19) April 17th 2013

According to KHL Sports Regulations, Article 70, paragraph 6, to get his name engraved on the Cup, a player must play in at least 50% of KHL games before a “Loan.” That means Alex Ovechkin (31 game played) will get his name on the Cup but Nicklas Backstrom (19 games) will not.

There’s no mention of a championship ring in the regulations, but one assumes awarding rings is up to the winning team. During the conference finals, KHL president Alexander Medvedev was asked whether Kovalchuk or Ovechkin could be eligible to get the ring. “Yes, 100 percent,” he said, according to R-Sport. “Every event, every point relates to the team’s final success. For their regular season scoring they deserve to be rewarded”.

3:50 Update: In a tweet, Ovechkin reveals he will indeed get a championship ring.

Im gonna get the champion ring )))haha

— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) April 17, 2013

Valery Nichushkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Michael Garnett after Game 5. (Photo credit: Sports.ru/Egor Filippov)

Fifteen years ago, former Capital Esa Tikkanen had a breakaway in game two of the Stanley Cup Finals. It could have iced the game for Washington and led them to the franchise’s first Cup. Instead, his shot completely missed the wide-open net and the Capitals were swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings.

Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov had his own painful playoff moment Friday. With Traktor Chelyabinsk trailing Dynamo Moscow in the KHL Finals 2-1, Kuzya had a chance to put Traktor in total control of game three, when he was sprung on a breakaway mid-way during the second period. At approximately 95 MPH, Kuznetsov performed his patented breakaway move where he fakes a forehand shot and then puts the puck waaaaaay on his backhand, trying to slip the biscuit past the goalie. It almost worked.

What a move. Traktor would end up losing to Ovi’s former KHL team 1-0, which will give Dynamo the chance to repeat as champs Monday in Moscow.

Regardless of Kuznetsov missing, his speed and skill was on full display once again. George McPhee must be salivating… or doing whatever an undertaker does.

Photo credit: Vitaly Gubin / HC Traktor

Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his team’s first-ever KHL finals goal and the fifth of his postseason, but his team couldn’t add to it. Dynamo took game one of the KHL finals, 2-1. In game two, Kuzynetsov picked up an assist, but Traktor lost again after allowing a late goal.

Early in game one, Dynamo’s forward Sergei Soin knocked Kuznetsov’s helmet off from behind. Kuznetsov didn’t retaliate, and Soin went to the box for roughing. Traktor didn’t generate anything on the ensuing power play, and a fast break by Dynamo’s speedy Denis Kokarev resulted in a shorthanded goal.

Midway through the second, Dynamo scored again. An aggressive forecheck by Sergei Konkov created an opportunity in front of the net that Soin converted on the rebound.

In the third period, Traktor had a chance to come back. 30 seconds in, Kuznetsov scored on this one-timer.

Then, top 2013 prospect Valery Nichushkin had a breakaway, but couldn’t beat Alexander Yeremenko.

Dynamo scored early again in the second game, Jakub Petruzalek capping off a nice passing play.

In the middle of the first period, Kuznetsov got an assist. He passed to veteran defenseman Dmitry Ryabykin, whose long-range shot was deflected in by Stanislav Chistov to tie the game.

As the second half of the game started, Traktor got a 5-on-3 and took advantage of it. Andrei Kostitsyn was first on the rebound to give his team the lead.

The third period was all Dynamo. Early on, Dominik Granak fired a low percentage shot that found its way past Michael Garnett. With less than three minutes to go, Nichushkin’s turnover behind his goal triggered a quick play by Dynamo that was finished by defenseman Janne Jalasvaara, whose shot got past a screened Garnett.

Later, Kuznetsov created a late flurry for his team by carrying the puck coast-to-coast, but Dynamo players were committed to block shots, limiting Traktor’s chances.

Just because the NHL lockout ended three months ago doesn’t mean that the channel Russia 2 is going to stop using Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in promos for Dynamo Moscow games. During the channel’s coverage of Sunday’s Manchester United/Chelsea game, Ovi and Nicky popped up in an animated promo at the bottom of the screen, encouraging viewers to watch the CSKA/Dynamo Moscow playoff series. Because they’ll be there! Er…

That’s one fancy looking one-timer. Russia, you stole out players for three months. Isn’t that enough?!

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.

There will be no NHL All-Star festivities this year, another casualty of the lockout. That means no Ovi wearing a hat with a Canadian flag, no Ovi swimming on the ice, and no players just trying not to get injured. Across the pond in the KHL, however, things are going on as planned. Actually, better than planned with the addition of some Russian NHL stars like Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk.

For Evgeny Kuznetsov, the game is also somewhat of a dream come true — it’s being held in his native Cheylabinsk. And on Saturday, the 20-year-old Washington Capitals prospect played a big role in the KHL Skills Competition.

Video is below the jump.

Kuznetsov gets a huge ovation and skates at 6:30.

Kuznetsov, a three-time KHL All-Star, won the fastest skater event after posting a 13.82 second lap around the ice. It was the fastest time ever recorded in the event and was a .05 improvement over his lap last year. Kuzya has now won two events all-time in the three skills competitions he’s participated in. In 2011, he also won the KHL’s Breakaway Challenge.

Before the night was over, Kuznetsov took the ice one more time. This time to show off his super powers.

After doing some dumbbell curls at the bench, Kuznetsov skates out to center ice to try a penalty shot. As he winds up and shoots, the puck explodes.

Oi. I take back every nice thing I have ever said about the KHL.

GIF by welshhockeyfan

hahahahaha, best friends)))))) (Photo credit: dynamo.ru)

While the NHL and NHLPA race to a January 11th deadline to save the season, we’re reminded how weird future Capitals/Hurricanes games are going to be once/if the lockout is lifted.

Alex Ovechkin and Dynamo Moscow took on former Capital Alex Semin and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Friday. And in Ovi’s first game since getting engaged to Maria Kirilenko, the Russian machine tallied two points, including his 19th goal of the season, the game-winning tally. Dynamo would win 3-1.

Video of Ovechkin’s goal is below.

This may be one of the easiest goals of Ovi’s career. As Leo Komarov brings the puck into Torpedo’s zone, Ovi curls to the middle. Komarov hits him with a pass, and Sasha Major does the rest. Pretty wretched goaltending and defense.

Meanwhile, Sasha Minor had five shots… and… wait for it… a hooking penalty! Semin was on the ice when Ovechkin scored. Honestly, it was fun typing that.

Nicklas Backstrom, who suffered a neck injury on December 26th, missed his third straight game.

Photo credit: dynamo.ru

GIF by welshhockeyfan

Don’t make Alex Ovechkin angry. The Montreal Canadiens learned this lesson a few years ago when Francis Bouillon bloodied the Russian machine and he responded by scoring four goals — including the overtime game-winner.

On Sunday, Ovechkin, perhaps peeved after seeing his 14-game point streak end and his BFF Nicky sidelined from a neck injury, took a rare “handling the puck with his hands” penalty during the second period. Then, from the penalty box, he watched CSKA Moscow score on the resulting power play. Ovechkin scored on his next shift. Quickly. Emphatically. Angrily.

As Konstantin Gorovikov hit Ovi with a pass, the Capitals captain skated towards CSKA’s net decisively, easily curling and dragging around Denis Denisov, and then scoring on Rastislav Stana while falling to the ice. Ovechkin’s celebration? HULK ROAR.

GIF by welshhockeyfan

Despite scoring that jaw-dropping goal and firing six shots on net, Ovechkin’s Dynamo lost to CSKA 4-2. Dynamo Moscow is now 0-2 without Nicklas Backstrom in the line-up. But hey, who cares? Enjoy some more media of this crazy Ovi goal.

Video of Ovechkin’s Goal

Replays of his goal begin at the 1:24 mark.

Photo Sequence of Ovechkin’s Goal

The incredulous eyeballing technique of referee appeal

“You got to be keeding me.”

“Through legs. NBD.”

“Welp, that was easy.”

HULK. OUT.

Photos via Dynamo.ru

Photo credit: dynamo.ru

After a two-game road swing that saw Dynamo Moscow travel multiple time-zones away, Alex Ovechkin and the rest of his teammates returned home for the Christmas holiday and took on Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday.

The Russian machine, who hasn’t been held off the scoresheet since the late 80′s, scored yet again, tallying a powerplay goal in the first period. Ovechkin now has a 14-game point streak and one very happy girlfriend in a #32 jersey. Dynamo won via the gimmick, 2-1 (SO).

Now let’s see this goal.

As Nicklas Backstrom brings the puck into the zone, he passes to Leo Komarov in the corner. Komarov then makes an strong individual play, pushing the puck to slot as he’s hooked to the ice. After Ilya Gorokhov fails to score, Ovechkin cleans up the mess, firing the rebound short-side past Jaroslav Janus. The goal tied the teams 1-1.

In the shootout, Dynamo head coach Oleg Znarok passed over Ovechkin and instead selected Richard Gynge, Marek Kvapil, and Alexei Tsvetkov to shoot. On Dynamo’s fourth attempt and Gynge’s second, the Swede scored and won the game for the blue and white.

Meanwhile, Nicklas Backstrom left the game in the second period after absorbing a hit and landing awkwardly into the boards. In Dynamo’s recap, the team acknowledged that The Swedish Gretzky suffered an injury but did not elaborate beyond that. We’ll see if we can dig up more on Backstrom’s status later.

A trainer puts ice on Backstrom’s neck before he leaves for the locker room. (Photo credit: championat.com)