Perezhogin to play in Russia

[Habs77]

Bulldogs' Perezhogin likely to play in

Russia

Suspended AHL player's actions still under investigation

By Garry McKay

The Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton Bulldogs' Alexander Perezhogin may not miss

a single game next season despite his year-long

suspension from the American Hockey League.

Although neither the Montreal Canadiens or

Perezhogin's agent Don Meehan want to talk about

the details, a deal appears to be in the works that

would allow the Hamilton Bulldogs winger to play for a

team in the Russian first division, likely Omsk.

Perezhogin, was given the suspension last month, the

longest in AHL history for a two-handed swing with his

stick that struck Garrett Stafford of the Cleveland

Barons in the face.

Stafford was given a six-game suspension by the AHL

for swinging his stick first and landing a glancing blow

on Perezhogin's helmet.

The incident is still under investigation by the Hamilton

police department which hasn't decided whether to

lay charges or not.

Although the suspension, which wasn't appealed by

the Canadiens and the Bulldogs, means Perezhogin

can't play in the AHL next year, it doesn't rule out his

playing altogether.

"There are really two options, one being in Montreal

and the second being in Russia," said Meehan.

The National Hockey League doesn't automatically

honour other league's suspensions and deals with

each one on a case-by-case basis.

Meehan said he has had discussions with Canadiens

general manager Bob Gainey who indicated they

would be willing to appeal Perezhogin's suspension to

the NHL.

The problem with that option, however, is the likelihood

of a work stoppage in the NHL beginning in

September.

If the NHL reduced Perezhogin's suspension to 20

games for example, but the work stoppage lasted until

January, he would still miss three-quarters of the

season.

Andre Savard, the Canadiens assistant general

manager who oversees the Bulldogs, said Montreal

could assign Perezhogin to a Russian team and that

would make him eligible to return to the Habs if they

recalled him. The NHL would still have to rule on his

suspension, however, before any recall.

There's almost no chance that the Russian Ice Hockey

Federation would honour Perezhogin's AHL suspension.

"The one thing I know about Russia, from having visited

there so often, is that the only thing certain is that there

are no rules," said Meehan.

"It's a good question but I don't know that there are

any set rules and that's something that the Canadiens

will have to look into with the Russian federation and

the IIHF."

Perezhogin, who was the Habs' second pick in the first

round of the 2001 NHL entry draft, has returned to

Russia and likely won't be back until the Canadiens

training camp in September although Meehan said he

would return sooner if asked to do so by the Hamilton

police.

Sergeant Carol Pacey of the Hamilton police

department, said the investigating officers are still

waiting for two pieces of evidence although she

declined to say what they were.

She said they hope to have it wrapped up quickly and

will then make a decision, in conjunction with the

crown attorney, on whether to charge Perezhogin.

Notes: Savard said the Habs still expect to have a

working agreement with another NHL team to supply

up to four players to the Bulldogs next year

Savard declined to say which team that could be.

It would be similar to the arrangement they had with

the Tampa Bay Lightning who put three players in

Hamilton this past season.

The deal will not be with Tampa who are going solo in

Springfield next year.

Nor will ithe agreement be with Chicago who are close

to finalizing a deal to return to Norfolk.

The Dallas Stars which have pulled out of Utah and will

only have a split affiliation with Minnesota in Houston,

could well be the team.

The caliber will be even higher than the AHL, shouldn't hamper his development at all.

And with Gainey & Meehan in his corner, he's well represented... the kid will be alright.

[montreal]

The only concern I have is that he will not want to come back after next year. I know he's still under contract for one more year, and having Meehan the super agent in his corner gives me more confidence, I still am concerned about him not coming back.

The IIHF has said they don't see it being a problem with Alex playing in Russia (or any Euro league) cause he has zero history of this.

I still hold out hope that he makes the Habs and the NHL allows him to play. :-^

[Habs77]

I understand your concerns regarding players going back to Russia... sometimes like Tarasov it's as if they fall off the face of the earth.

If he didn't have both Gainey and Meehan running things, I would be really concerned as well.

But I just have a feeling he's going to be fine.

Any chance he could play with/against Kastitsyn in Russia next year?... if Gainey bring K over during the summer that is.

And what of Korneev while we're at it.

As for Perezhogin going straight to the NHL to avoid the suspension, I think that:

a) the NHL will enforce it because they're taking a stand after the McSorley/Bertuzzi incidents

B) there won't be an NHL season, at least not the first few months... so Perezhogin will have to find somewhere else to play anyway

[montreal]

Originally posted by Habs77

I understand your concerns regarding players going back to Russia... sometimes like Tarasov it's as if they fall off the face of the earth.

If he didn't have both Gainey and Meehan running things, I would be really concerned as well.

But I just have a feeling he's going to be fine.

Any chance he could play with/against Kastitsyn in Russia next year?... if Gainey bring K over during the summer that is.

And what of Korneev while we're at it.

As for Perezhogin going straight to the NHL to avoid the suspension, I think that:

a) the NHL will enforce it because they're taking a stand after the McSorley/Bertuzzi incidents

B) there won't be an NHL season, at least not the first few months... so Perezhogin will have to find somewhere else to play anyway

Well Gainey would have nothing to do with it if Perezhogin decides he doesn't want to come back. It can go either way. Having Meehan as his agent is good since Meehan seems to be one greedy SOB, but it's still a concern to me.

No I can't see him playing for CSKA. Most likely he'll go back to Omsk since they know him there.

Korneev I assume will stay in Russia for next year, beyond that who knows. Since he signed a new contract, I'd be surprised if he came over this summer, but it's still a possibility.

As for Perezhogin,

A) the question is wheter or not the NHL can suspend him, it's totaly different then McSorly. The NHL has already said they don't think they legally can do it, but would have to review it (Colin Cambell)

B) Guess we'll see if there's a season or not. The AHL just annoucned they signed a year 2 extension to their CBA with players assocation, through '07, perhaps the NHL learns from them.