Here’s a rundown of the top hockey events for July 31, 2024.
Pittsburgh forward Malkin spoke humorously about his 38th birthday
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin celebrated his 38th birthday on July 31. The forward posted a photo on his social media page, captioning it with the hashtag #not40good.
Evgeny Malkin
Photo: Evgeni Malkin’s social media page.
Evgeni Malkin – Hart Trophy winner (2012), two-time Art Ross Trophy nominee, Ted Lindsay Award winner (2012), Conn Smythe Trophy (2009), Calder Trophy (2007), three-time Stanley Cup winner. Malkin graduated from Metallurg; he played for the Russian club from 2003 to 2006 and during the NHL lockout from 2012 to 2013. After the Magnitogorsk Club’s victory at the 2024 Gagarin Cup, the hockey player congratulated his home team on social networks.
Earlier, Metallurg President Viktor Rashnikov spoke about his desire to invite Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin to the team after his contract abroad expires.
Related materials
Only Crosby is cooler than Ovechkin in the 21st century! 5 Russians are among the best hockey players of the century
The NHL website presented possible combinations for Washington’s lines in the new season
Journalist Harvey Valentine, in an article on the official website of the National Hockey League, presented the possible combinations of the Washington Capitals lines in the new season.
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson; McMichael-Dubois-Oshie; Milan – Lapierre – Mangiapane; Protas – Daoud – Duhaime;
Chikran-Carlson; Sandín – Roy; Fehervari-van Riemsdyk;
Goalkeepers: Lindgren, Thompson.
Recall that in the 2023/2024 season Washington made it to the playoffs only at the last moment, where in the first round of the Stanley Cup they were unable to win a single game against the New York Rangers, losing the series with a score of 0-4.
Earlier, Washington president of hockey operations Brian McLellan assessed the state of the team heading into the new National Hockey League season.
Related materials
Is Ovechkin’s record no longer important? What goals does the new Washington leadership set for itself?
Igor Chernyshov has terminated his contract with Dynamo and will continue his career in North America
Forward Igor Chernyshov has terminated his contract with Dynamo and will continue his career in North America. According to the press service of the Moscow club, the contract with the hockey player was terminated at the player’s initiative. The player’s sporting rights remain with Dynamo Moscow.
A native of Penza, he graduated from the Dynamo school. In the Dynamo youth team, the forward played 84 matches and scored 82 (43+39) points with a utility indicator of “+44”. For two seasons in the main team, the young player played 49 matches, scoring 5 (4+1) points. Igor Chernyshov is the youngest Dynamo player in the KHL, as well as the author of the youngest goal in the history of the blue-and-white in the league. In 2024, together with Dynamo Moscow, the forward won the Continental Cup.
Recall that Chernyshov played 34 games in the regular season of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season, scoring three goals and providing one assist, and adding four points. He played 10 playoff games and was unable to score any goals.
Related materials
Will they become stars in the league? Which of the Russian draft picks should we expect to see in the NHL?
SKA announced the signing of a contract with Evgeny Kuznetsov
Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has signed a four-year contract with SKA, the press service of the military club reports. Recall that the “Championat” previously reported about this.
He was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 2010 NHL draft in the first round with the 26th pick. Since the 2013/2014 season, Kuznetsov played in Washington, but the hockey player spent the last season in the Carolina Hurricanes and scored 24 (in 63 games). Kuznetsov graduated from Chelyabinsk hockey and made his debut in the KHL in the Traktor team. In 251 games he scored 167 points (78+89). Earlier, Kuznetsov terminated his contract with Carolina, according to which he could receive $6 million for the rest of the season.
In the last season of the Kontinental Hockey League, SKA took second place in the KHL Western Conference standings based on the results of the regular season. At the 2024 Gagarin Cup, the St. Petersburg club lost to Avtomobilist in the second round. For the first time in 10 years (since the 2014/2015 season), SKA failed to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs.
Related materials
Kuznetsov’s move to SKA is disappointing. Sad trends have emerged in Russian hockey.
SKA renewed the contracts of forward Gritsyuk and defender Sapego and extended the agreement with Borna Rendulic
SKA terminated the contracts of forward Arseniy Gritsyuk and defender Sergei Sapego, after which it signed new contracts with them, which are designed for one and four years, respectively. In addition, 32-year-old Croatian forward Borna Rendulic has renewed his contract with the St. Petersburg team, the KHL press service reported.
In the 2023/2024 season, Gritsyuk played 60 matches for the St. Petersburg army team, in which he scored 44 (23+21) points. Sapego played 68 matches last season, in which he scored 13 (4+9) points.
Recall that on July 31, SKA signed a four-year contract with forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. The forward previously terminated his contract with Carolina, under which he could have received $6 million for the next season.
Last season, 32-year-old Rendulic played 51 regular season games for the St. Petersburg team and scored 27 (11+16) points. In the playoffs, the forward played one game in which he was ineffective.
He also played 16 games for Sochi, scoring nine goals and providing six assists, adding a total of 15 points.
In total, Rendulic has 158 games and 84 points in the KHL: 41 goals scored and 43 assists. In addition to SKA and Sochi, the forward played for Vityaz near Moscow.
Ak Bars signed a contract with forward Alexander Barabanov
Ak Bars has signed a contract with forward Alexander Barabanov. According to the Winners hockey agency, the agreement is for two seasons.
Recall that 30-year-old Barabanov spent the last four seasons with the San Jose Sharks. Last season, the forward scored 13 (4+9) points per season. A graduate of the St. Petersburg hockey school in Russia, he played for SKA and made his KHL debut in 2013. He left Russia only in 2020; on April 7, 2020, Barabanov signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 2018, Alexander Barabanov won Olympic gold as part of the Russian team in Pyeongchang. In total, Barabanov played 206 games in the NHL, in which he scored 107 points, scored 32 goals and gave 75 assists.
Barabanov’s contract was criticized in North America:
“It’s not a shock.” Three Russians’ contracts are among the worst in the NHL in the West
“I have been looking forward to coming back for a long time.” Kuznetsov on his return to Russia from the NHL
Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov shared his emotions about his move to SKA. The forward signed a four-year contract with the St. Petersburg club. Previously, Kuznetsov terminated his contract with Carolina.
— You played abroad for 10 years, now you are returning to the KHL. Have you followed how hockey has changed in Russia? – Yes, of course, I understand. I know who plays how, I know many of the players. You might be surprised, but I’ve been wanting to come back for a long time, to be honest.
“I hope everything will work out. Now we need to quickly improve our daily life and focus on training,” Kuznetsov was quoted as saying by the SKA press service.
