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Kassian to the K?

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petenik	Kassian to the K?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 566 (06/02/09 11:35:38) Stay at Home Defenceman Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None anyone worried about this? if they throw bags of cash at the kid to play pro next year what would stop him? i'm sure he dreamed of playing in the NHL, but if he can go play pro (for one of the most famous Russian teams to boot) for a year rather than another year in junior, and then make the jump to the NHL in a year or two, well that's an interesting proposition. Twohey was already worried the NHL team that drafts him would keep him so his physical game isn't stifled by the refs in the OHL...I wonder how he's feeling today... http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1593399 "The top Canadian selected in the KHL draft was Peterborough Petes winger Zach Kassian, who went 56th overall to Moscow Dynamo."
Refug68		#1	[-]
Posts: 1266 (06/03/09 11:43:59) Logan's Lads Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I'm pretty sure Zack won't be going overseas... Alot of the guys that were taken in the KHL draft didn't even know they had been selected. Teams just went out and took guys without talking to them. Two examples: 1) Mikhail Stefanovich went 2nd overall. The NEXT DAY he signed an entry level deal with the Leafs (who drafted him last summer). 2) Jiri Tlusty was taken a little later in the draft. He was interviewed shortly after and he told the reporter that he didn't hear about it until the reporter mentioned it to him. His "rights" had been drafted and he was 100% unaware. I'm pretty sure they just took whomever they thought they could... and if anyone reports, good on them. Kassian being the top Canadian to be selected is pretty interesting. But I think it has more to do with his style than anything else. I don't think he'll jump ship in N.A. to play a year pro in Russia. What's more? I doubt his KHL team lets him only play a year over there. I'm willing to bet if he goes over he'll be stuck there for a few years before he could come back to get a crack at the NHL. I don't think he'll be going anywhere.
Northern Voice		#2	[-]
Posts: 1128 (06/04/09 10:52:37) What doesn't Hunter do? Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1597591 Kassian declines Russian league Posted By MIKE DAVIES , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER Posted 4 hours ago While flattered to be drafted by Moscow Dynamo of the Kontinental Hockey League, Zack Kassian has no desire to leave the Peterborough Petes for Russia. Kassian was the first of only three Canadians chosen in the KHL's inaugural draft on Monday of players aged 17-20 when Dynamo took him 56th overall. Also selected were Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Erik Gudbranson and Windsor Spitfires' forward Taylor Hall. "I wouldn't leave the Petes any ways," said Kassian. "They've been good to me all the way from (Petes' GM) Jeff (Twohey) to the training staff. Everyone has been great to me. I'm a Peterborough Pete and I'm a Pete until I leave there. I find it interesting, but my dream since I was young was to play in the NHL and that doesn't change with a Russian draft." Not even the enticement of a large contract would change his mind, he said. "I'd have to tell them Peterborough has been great and I love it there and I want to finish off there," he said. Kassian didn't know anything about the draft until friends began congratulating him on his Facebook page. "I was shocked," said Kassian. "I didn't know what type of league it was or anything like that. It's good that my name is out there." Petes' GM Jeff Twohey isn't worried about losing Kassian to Russia, but he's not sure he could go even if he wanted to. "Our players are under contract for the amount of time they have junior eligibility," said Twohey. "There is a provision in the contract that would allow them to leave to go to the NHL to leave and go to Russia, I don't think there is a way they can get out of (the contract). I don't pretend to be a lawyer, but they are under contract to us. "The ones who, potentially, would be a little concerning to us is if it were a European because you have to get a release for your Europeans every year. Even though you have them under contract you have to get that release from year-to-year." Twohey said the KHL may be more of an option for Kassian, who is represented by the Bobby Orr Group hockey agency, if he doesn't sign an NHL contract after his junior career finishes. Alexander Radulov was under contract to the NHL's Nashville Predators when he bolted to Russia to play in the KHL. Twohey said if Radulov could challenge a contract it's possible an OHL player could try the same thing, but he's not worried about that happening with Kassian. "Historically, Bobby Orr has been a big supporter of ours," said Twohey. "I don't see taking an 18-year-old kid and moving him to Russia as being something which would excite them."
Tito Santana		#3	[-]
Posts: 428 (06/05/09 12:00:38) Stay at Home Defenceman Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You'd have to wonder what NHL teams would think if kids did start going over to the KHL before the NHL from Canada. If I was a GM or coach it would be a red flag issue.

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