Malkin maybe stuck in Russia another year.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06213/710156-61.stm
An NHL-imposed deadline passed yesterday with no immediate word on a response from or action taken by the Russian hockey federation.
The NHL recently set a deadline of yesterday for the deal to be finalized; otherwise Russian players not already in the NHL would not be allowed to sign with and play for NHL teams in 2006-07.
It seems that this was just done to put pressure on Russia to sign off earlier rather than later, as I doubt the league would block players from coming over if an agreement is reached before the season starts.
If Russia officially joins the trade agreement in a time frame acceptable to the NHL, negotiating Malkin’s contract should not be difficult. He would probably receive a three-year deal worth the maximum $984,200 plus bonuses under the year-old collective bargaining agreement.