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Red Army now has top pick

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 26, 2001

TAMPA -- The saga of Alexander Svitov continues, and this twist in the tale might bring the Lightning's first-round draft pick closer to joining Tampa Bay.

Assistant general manager Jay Feaster said reports indicate that Svitov has been taken by Russia's Central Red Army team from Avangard Omsk, his hometown team in Omsk, Siberia.

If so, it could be easier for the 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward to get out of his two-year military obligation, scheduled to run through December 2002.

"It has to be less difficult talking to them than with the other guys," Feaster said Thursday night.

That is because Avangard Omsk was determined to keep Svitov, the No.3 overall pick, from honoring his three-year, $3.6-million Lightning contract.

The Lightning questioned the legitimacy of Svitov's military obligation after Avangard Omsk belatedly provided documents that confirm it.

Under International Ice Hockey Federation rules, military service is the only condition that trumps a signed NHL contract. The Lightning hired lawyers in Russia to investigate. Feaster said they found Svitov took a military oath in December.

But as Nikita Alexeev showed, there are ways of getting around Russia's military obligation. The Lightning right wing said he bought his way out.

Feaster said Tampa Bay will not pay off the Russian military: "We will not violate the terms of the IIHF-NHL agreement."

The latest chapter began this week when Avangard Omsk played in Moscow. Reports said "The military police physically removed (Svitov) and Stanislav Chistov (the No.5 overall pick by Anaheim) and basically removed them to the Moscow garrison and the Central Red Army team."

That's a step up, Feaster said. "Because of the way things have been handled in Omsk, we think it's in the best interest of the player to be out of there. We think this whole thing, the fact there is an internal struggle, reflects our contention there has been something untoward in the whole process of the military service."

ZYUZIN SITS AGAIN: Defenseman Andrei Zyuzin was a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game. With rookie Mathieu Biron playing well and Nolan Pratt preparing to return from a broken right foot, the question is, where will Zyuzin fit in?

He will not be sent to the minors because there is a concern he would not clear waivers.

"Zyuzin has to show some patience," general manager Rick Dudley said. "He has to work hard and be ready. And when he gets in, he has to make sure the coach does not want to take him out."

ODDS AND ENDS: Stan Neckar's goal was the first by a Lightning defenseman. ... Left wing Juha Ylonen left in the second period with a sprained left shoulder. He is day to day. ... Jason Allison made his debut for the Kings. He played 12:55, had one shot on goal and was minus-1. ... The Lightning re-signed Kaspars Astashenko and assigned him to Springfield after the defenseman failed to sign with a team in his native Latvia. ... Alexeev was a healthy scratch.

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