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Friday, August 8, 2008
Nikulin Says “Nyet” To Thrashers?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to sports.ru, Russian defenseman Ilya Nikulin will be staying put in Russia. Now, for those of us who don’t speak Russian…I’ve taken the liberty of running it through freetranslation.com and have come up with this:
“The decision the Account in opposition between NHL and КХЛ has increased in favour of the Russian league. Defender Ilya Nikulin has decided to remain in ” Ак the Leopard ” for one season though it had a real offer from “Atlanta”. We, certainly, are glad - the good hockey player has remained at home. But here if to look at it on the other hand. Ilya had fine chances to play in Ilya Kovalchuka’s club. It could act in the best league of the world and receive invaluable experience. And if that would not turn out, having returned to Russia, Никулин all the same would not remain without work. But it has accepted the decision here such”.
Ummm…OK. I guess that’s why it’s “free”.
Here’s another attempt at it from one of our regular posters who seems to have a better grasp of the language.
Either way, if this report is to be believed…Nikulin won’t be in Atlanta this season. Don Waddell went down this road with Nikulin last summer and now here we are again.
My official position on this development is simply that I still hope the Russian player will indeed be a Thrasher soon. I think he could be a great asset to the blueline. But I’m not sitting around waiting for his arrival as if he’s the great savior of this team. If Nikulin does choose to remain in his homeland and complete the contract he currently is under, then more power to him.
One also has to take into consideration the situation the NHL and KHL are dealing with at this time when it comes to players currently under contracts with clubs in those leagues. I’m sure a lot of that has played a part here as well.
So, without Nikulin and barring any acquisitions by way of trade, the defensive corps of Havelid, Enstrom, Hainsey, Bogosian, Klee, XLB and Valabik will be the most likely to start the season.
Information Overload
Eric Boulton provides his first big assist of the season. He recently helped handout backpacks filled with school supplies at the Agape Community Center as well as present them with a check for $10,000 to support the center’s GOGIRLGO! Program from the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation.
Bryan Little is going to participate in a “Pros vs. Politicians” charity hockey game next week in Barrie, Ontario.
It was 20 years ago this weekend that “The Trade” went down sending Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
We’re are at the beginning of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games…but our neighbors to the north are already looking to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Honestly…I can’t say I blame them.
Apparently, Mats Sundin needs to check his phone messages.
Scott Burnside writes about Ray Emery’s attempt to right his ship.
And finally…I’ve been told that there is a really good article here by Craig Custance regarding the five things he would change about the NHL. I’ve tried and I’ve tried to read it…but every time I view it, all I can see is the picture of Erin Andrews…nothing else. It must be some sort of an optical illusion.
