Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
RALEIGH, N.C. -- A year from now, Evgeni Malkin expects to be stronger.
To be able to converse in English.
To be ready to play in the NHL.
Which is why Malkin, whom the Penguins will claim with the No. 2 choice in the NHL Entry Draft today at the RBC Center, said yesterday that he plans to spend the 2004-05 season with Mettalurg Magnitogorsk, his club in the Russian Super League.
Malkin, with agent Dmitri Goryachkin serving as his interpreter, noted that he has played just one season in the Super League -- Alexander Ovechkin, who will go to Washington with the No. 1 pick, has played three -- and that he had a limited workload as a rookie.
"I was the youngest player on the team, and I didn't play in that many games because I was the youngest," he said. "I think I need one more year to feel more comfortable playing on a high level, against men. And I want to try to get physically stronger in order to get ready for the NHL."
Malkin, who had three goals and nine assists while appearing in 34 of Magnitogorsk's 60 regular-season games, has plenty of room to add muscle. He carries 186 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame.
Of course, he also has a lot of time to fill out because he won't turn 18 until July 31. Conversely, Ovechkin will be 19 Sept. 17, which means he is about 10 1/2 months older than Malkin.
Nonetheless, Ovechkin reiterated his contention that Malkin could step directly into the NHL. And while he defended Malkin's decision to stay in Russia for another year, he doesn't necessarily agree with it.
"If Evgeni says [he isn't ready], why not?" Ovechkin said. "He can stay in Russia. But I think that if you have to chance to play in the NHL, you must take it."
One thing that won't prevent Malkin from joining the Penguins is his contract with Magnitogorsk. Although it has four years remaining, Malkin said it contains an escape clause.
"The team promised me that if I sign a contract with the NHL and decide to go to the NHL, they will not cause any trouble with my departure," he said.
Malkin learned a little about overcoming problems during the past season, when he had to deal with two significant ones -- one on the ice, one off.
He had to bounce back from a concussion caused by a collision in a game in February and rebound from the distress caused by testing positive for a banned substance before the world junior championships last winter.
The same substance showed up in the system of a Magnitogorsk teammate, but follow-up tests two days later were negative for both. Malkin said the initial positive reading stemmed from something Magnitogorsk's team doctor had distributed to players.
"The explanation that Magnitogorsk gave to the Russian Federation when [it] made an inquiry ... they said the team doctor was giving all the players on Magnitogorsk a multivitamin," Goryachkin said. "The players were thinking they were taking multivitamins. They don't know what it was.
"Being the youngest player on the team, it is very difficult for him to say to the doctor or the coach, 'I'm not taking this.' Now, he's learned his lesson."
No one associated with the Penguins has expressed any concern over that episode, and there is no evidence it will have any impact on their draft strategy.
Malkin said he spoke with Penguins scouts "several times" over the course of the past season, and that he met with team officials twice -- once in a formal interview, once when they invited him to dinner -- since arriving in Raleigh this week.
"We had a very good interview with the team," he said. "I really liked the people, the management and the scouts that I met. From what I learned about the team and the coaching staff, I'm very pleased. In general, I have a very positive impression [of the Penguins]."
Limited as his knowledge of the franchise and city are --Mario Lemieux, Aleksey Morozov and Marc-Andre Fleury are the only players he can name, and Malkin admitted that "I don't know anything about the city" -- he figures that will change soon. Just as his command of English will after he begins working with the language instructor he has found in Russia.
"I'm sure that, in a year, I will talk to you guys in English," he said.
And one of the topics sure to be discussed will be the same one that's turned up in so many conversations lately: Whether Ovechkin or Malkin will turn out to have the more productive career in the NHL.
"Some people think I could [challenge] him for the top place [in the draft]," Malkin said. "We will see in the future who will be the best."
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If you can't play with the big dogs,stay the hell on the porch
