Reports are surfacing that Washington Caps F Sergei Fedorov will end his 18 year NHL career and sign a contract to play in the Russian pro league, KHL, next season.
The Russian Sports Express Daily broke the news yesterday.
The three-time Soviet champions the three-time
winner of the Stanley Cup Sergey Fedorov will put his signature under
the contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk soon.The 39-year-old player’s agent has already settled
all details of the contract. According to Sport Express information
this contract will be designed for two years.
Fedorov provided the Capitals with much needed veteran leadership and locker room presence. he also nailed the game winning goal in over time that eliminated the New York Rangers from the playoffs and propelled the Caps into the second round.
Fedorov’s resigning in Washington was not all that certain because of the salary cap situation. Fedorov counted $4 million against the cap last season and as I wrote last week, I could not possibly foresee the Caps bringing back Feds at that number.
The salary cap becomes even more tenable because of reports that it will go down, instead of rise for the coming season.
As they compile their wish lists for the start of free agency
beginning July 1, GMs will likely be facing the first decrease in the
salary cap since it was instituted for the 2005-06 season.
The cap could drop by as much as $2.5 million for
the 2009-10 season from its current $56.7 million figure, according to
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. Although Daly couldn’t say, it is
not inconceivable that the figure could fall to $50 million for the
2010-11 season.
Caps also have salary cap decision to make in regards to G Jose Theodore, who appears to have been displaced by young Russian netminder Simeon Varlamov, Michael Nylander, who played all but 12 playoff games, and D Shaone Morrisonn, who will likely demand around $3.5 million and likely be awarded at least $2 million in arbitration. I am nore sure the Caps will be willing to pay Morrisonn that kind of cash with Karl Alzner and John Carlson in the wings awaiting 2009/10. Caps also have lurking contract extensions for Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin.
UPDATE: Tarik from the Wash Post updates the story on Feds to Russia. Seems the report in Russia press may be more true than not.
While that may indeed happen, I was just told moments ago by someone in
the Fedorov camp that the 39-year-old veteran still has interest in
playing for Washington next season. But for Fedorov to return to the
Caps, I was told via text message, “a decision has to be made soon by
Wash.”
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