EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a daily look at the latest international hockey news.

- Can't get enough Alexei Cherepanov? Russianprospects.com provides a detailed scouting analysis of the New York Rangers 2007 1st Round draft pick during his most recent game for Avangard (Omsk). The author of the article Alessandro Seren Rosso says the talented winger looked sluggish but cautioned that Cherepanov is still recovering from an injury suffered during the recent Super Series against Canada.

- New Jersey Devils Prospect Nicklas Bergfors may start the season with the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old Swede had 2 points in 9 games during the 2007 World Junior Championships in Leksand, Sweden. He spent most of the 2006'07 season in the AHL, his second, scoring 13 goals and 19 assists in 60 games played.

- Josef Boumedienne may start the season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League but will surely get a second look from the Washington Capitals if any of their current defensemen fail or go down with injury. Boumedienne had 2 goals and 2 assists in 18 games last season with Kärpät of the SM-Liiga. He last played in the NHL with the Washington Capitals during the 2003'04 season. Boumedienne was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 1996 (4/96).

- The Sports Network and Pittsburgh Tribune are reporting on the possibility of an NHL regular season game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning being hosted by the city of Prague, Czech Republic to start the 2008'09 season. The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings opened the 2007'08 season in London, England over the weekend, playing two regular season games at the 02 Arena.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.