Aivis Kalnins: Former coach and an executive praise Malkin following his milestone game

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GENO is great!

And the NHL or someone run a list of the best ever 100 players and he wasn’t there....what a joke

Never said no? How quickly they gloss over how Malkin had to defect to get out of there. Pulled the old switch-a-roo in the airport.

interesting that there is no mention of him (Malkin) negotiating to play 1 more year to go to the NHL. He played that year and then they pressured him to sign another deal. They wouldnt let him or his parents leave where the hotel meeting was and he caved at 1AM in the morning. Malkin even said that when he signed the additional year, he looked at the coach and said "you just killed my dream." That is when he called his agent and is agent hid him in Helsinki for 5 days while they fast tracked his visa. Then they got him to Los Angeles. He didnt go back to russia until after they won the cup in 2009. THEN it was ok for him to come home.

Never said no? How quickly they gloss over how Malkin had to defect to get out of there. Pulled the old switch-a-roo in the airport.
- ChrisMS

not entirely true. he did play 1 added year as agreed. the owner of metallurg felt that malkin "owed" him since they had put so much $ into his work outs, training, etc. so 1 more year was an obligation that he agreed to. but then they wanted another contract extension. that is when he left.