MALKIN'S DEBUT WITH PENS STILL CLOUDY.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Shelly Anderson yesterday reported highly-rated Penguins prospect Evgeny Malkin's long-awaited NHL debut remains in limbo due to stalled player transfer negotiations between the Russian Hockey Federation and the NHL. The Russians agreed to the transfer deal between the IIHF and the NHL on June 9th but have yet to file the paperwork, despite a now-passed July 31st deadline imposed by the NHL to do so. If no deal is in place soon, players like Malkin currently playing on contract with Russian teams would be barred from playing in the NHL this season.
Spector's Note: To date there's been no word from either side as to how things are progressing. Here's hoping this gets resolved very soon.