EURO CURVE

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

- Kazakh-born prospect Konstantin Pushkarev, who debuted last season with the Los Angeles Kings, has left the Iowa Stars to play with CSKA Moskva of the Russian Super League. In 2006'07, Pushkarev scored two goals and two assists in 16 games for the Kings before he was traded to the Dallas Stars organization towards the trade deadline. With Iowa this season, Pushkarev had six points in eights games but obviously felt that Russia would be a better place for his development. Pushkarev was drafted by the Kings in 2003 (2/44) and looked to form a good 1-2 rookie punch with Slovenian Anze Kopitar last season but was dealt in a multi-player deal that saw Mattias Norstrom and himself leave the Kings.

A Talent Analysis from website http://www.hockeyfutures.com/ is provided here:

Hockey's Future Russian Correspondent, Eugene Belashchenko, had to say about Pushkarev, "A typical sniper...a very good skater, with a high top speed and great acceleration...very aggressive on the ice and does not hesitate to crash the net...very competitive and doesn’t give up on a play...not an asset defensively, needs to work on this aspect of the game....possesses a good wrister with a quick release...needs to bulk up and improve his strength to supplement his aggressiveness with power and that will come with time."

-www.hockeyfans.ch reports that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Simon Gamache could return to SC Bern of the Swiss League if he is clears the NHL waiver wire. Gamache has two goals and two assists in 11 games with the Leafs thus far and has done an admirable job filling in for injured forwards Kyle Wellwood and Darcy Tucker. Gamache has put up huge offensive numbers everywhere he has played including scoring a mind-boggling 184 points-74 goals and 110 assists- in 72 games for Val d'Or of the QMJHL back in 2000'01. He also had 86 points in 80 games for the Milwaukee Admirals in 2004'05, during the lockout year. Gamache is rumoured to be interested in returning to his former club SC Bern, where he potted 20 goals and 46 assists in 44 games in 2006'07.

- I know you Russian Super League nuts out there want to know Team Russia's lines for the upcoming Karjala Cup tournament, so here they are ( courtesy, Illegal Curve's favourite source for Russian Super League news, http://www.russianprospects.com/)

Vyacheslav Bykov announced the lines for the Karjala Cup tournament that will soon take place in Finland. The squad includes a number of NHL prospects, who will be holding key roles.

LINE 1: Vladimir Antipov (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins) – Sergei Mazyakin – Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers) – Andrei Proshkin

LINE 2: Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Ivan Nepryaev – Timofei Shishkanov (St. Louis Blues) – Peretyagin – Vitaly Atyushov

LINE 3: Fedor Fedorov (New York Rangers) – Alexei Tereschenko (Dallas Stars) – Dmitri Afanasenkov – Kuteikin – Anton Belov

LINE 4: Alexei Simakov – Anton Kuryanov – Oleg Saprykin (Ottawa Senators) – Evgeny Medvedev – Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens)

The rest of the team, including defensemen and goalies is as follows:

GOALIES: Alexander Eremenko ("Salavat Yulaev"), Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) ("Lokomotiv"), Yachanov (SKA), , Biryukov (KhK MVD),

DEFENSEMEN: Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers), Evgeni Medvedev, Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens) (all - "Ak Bars"), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens), Anton Belov (all - CSKA), Vitaly Proshkin, Kuteykin (oba - "Salavat Yulaev"), Vitaly Atyushov ("Metallurg" Mg), Dmitri Bykov (Detroit Red Wings) ("Khimik"), Yakov Rylov "(Dynamo"), Peretyagin (SKA),

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

Euro Curve

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

- According to hockej.cz, SC Bern of the Swiss Hockey League is interested in Free Agent forward Petr Cajanek, formerly of the St.Louis Blues. SC Bern recently found out that 1999 1st overall pick Patrik Stefan would be retiring.

- Robert Dome, drafted in the 1st round (17th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1997, has recently transferred to HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga. Dome last played in the NHL in 2002'03 with the Calgary Flames. Dome had 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 games for MODO of the Swedish Elitserien last season.

A couple of signings to announce by Luleå of the Swedish Elitserien;
-Cory Larose, a center from Campbelton, New Brunswick has signed on after playing only 4 games with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Super League. The 32-year-old journeyman had an impressive 83 points for the Chicago Wolves of the American hockey league last season. Larose, a former standout with the University of Maine Black Bears, played 7 games with the New York Rangers in 2003'04.
- Former NHLer Lubos Bartecko arrives after transferring from MHK Kezmarok of the Slovakian Extra League. Bartecko had 22 goals and 27 assists in 44 games last year for Luleå. Bartecko last played in the NHL in 2002'03 with the Atlanta Thrashers.

- There is an excellent article on Russian Defenseman Darius Kasparaitis courtesy Gerry Cantlon of Eurohockey.net. Despite the fact Kasparaitis has been demoted to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, Cantlon notes that Kasparaitis is far from done in the hockey world. Kasparaitis has bulked up 20 lbs. from last year, is in excellent physical condition and even has aspirations of playing for Team Russia in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Kasparaitis will be a great mentor for Rangers top prospect 6'3 210 lb. Russian Artem Ansimov.
*** The Wolf Pack have more international flavour as Cuban-American Goaltender Al Montoya will start this weekend versus the rival Bridgeport Sound Tigers, farm team of the New York Islanders..... Former Wolf Pack Jarkko Immomen has been dominant with JYP Javaslyka of the Finnish Elite League.

- Alessandro Seren Rosso (RussianProspects.com) writes about Florida Panthers Top Prospect Evgeni Dadonov and how he is drawing comparisons to fellow Russian and Detroit Red Wings superstar forward Pavel Datsyuk. Dadonov plays with hometown Traktor (Chelyabinsk) of the Russian Super League.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

EURO CURVE

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

Kind of a light night for European hockey news.

- Daniel Tolensky has an article on hockeybuzz.com about the possibility of National Hockey League expansion into Europe.

These juicy tidbits are from http://www.spectorshockey.net/ ( Thanks Spector!)

SLAPSHOT.CH: reports Swiss NLA team SC Bern is searching for a replacement for forward Patrik Stefan, who is sidelined with a nagging hip injury and may not play with the team this season. Stefan had told the team he was medically fit after off-season hip surgery.
SLAPSHOT.CH/HOKEJ.CZ: reports Swiss NLA team EV Zug unsuccessfully attempted to sign NHL defenceman Jason York as a replacement for injured Barry Richter as he doesn't want to move to Europe for such a short period of time.
SLAPSHOT.CH/HOKEJ.CZ: reports Swiss NLA team EHC Basel was unable to meet the financial requirements of NHL defenceman David Tanabe and thus won't be signing him.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.