NFL

Star Russian center joins Pens today

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 5, 2006

PITTSBURGH - Evgeni Malkin is about to become a Penguins player.

Malkin has spent three weeks training in the Los Angeles area, but is expected to sign with Pittsburgh today, two days before the start of rookie training camp.

The Penguins planned a news conference today to announce the signing of the 20-year-old Russian center.

Malkin, the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft, sneaked away from his Russian pro team last month in Finland so he could make a clandestine trip to the United States and begin preparing for his first NHL season.

He is expected to sign a deal identical to that of last season's top rookie, Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin, drafted immediately ahead of Malkin, has a base salary of $984,2000, plus incentives worth $2.85-million per season with Washington.

Malkin, often called the best player in the world not currently in the NHL, had two goals and six points for Russia during the Turin Olympics in February.

Malkin stayed with his hometown Metallurg Magnitogorsk team in the Russian Super League last season because there was no transfer agreement compensating Russian teams who lost players to the NHL.

When a proposed transfer deal fell through again this year, Malkin said he was pressured into signing a one-year contract with his Russian team. But after he bolted from the club, Malkin's agents faxed a letter of resignation to the team. Under Russian law, an employee can quit his job by giving two weeks' notice, even if he is under contract.

[Last modified September 5, 2006, 01:20:53]