Getty ImagesLast week the Edmonton Oilers agreed to terms with Anton Belov, a 26-year-old Russian defenseman who spent the last five seasons with Avangard Omsk in the KHL.

Belov is the CSKA Youth Academy alumnus, who has become arguably the best defenseman in the KHL. Having achieved everything he could in the KHL, according to Belov himself, he decided it was time for the NHL.

It was about a year and a half ago that Belov realized he was ready for the NHL, the player told R-Sport.

“A lot of factors influenced that decision. First of all, it is a dream. The rest are just secondary reasons. Last year I stayed with Avangard, and I don’t regret it… I gained a lot of experience. And I realize that if it’s time to go to the NHL, then the time is now or never.”

Because Anton Belov was undrafted when he signed, he had an opportunity to pick and choose his club, with about half a dozen interested, according to his agent.

“I am very happy I ended up with the Oilers,” Belov said.

“Of all of the clubs the Oilers showed the most interest. First of all, I think, it’s because the team needs a defenseman of the type I am… I heard that the Oilers GM Craig MacTavish came to the World Championships and watched me play. I like the fact that the team in Edmonton is turning out to be very promising. There are young stars, especially on offense, so the club has a big future.”

Belov signed a one-year entry-level two-way deal and is very driven to prove himself.

“First of all, I want to develop professionally. I had a chance to sign a multi-year contract with Omsk this summer and provide for myself and my family for a very long time. But I think that these things make an athlete relaxed. When you know that you have a contract, that the money is coming, a feeling of easy and fullness sets in and the development halts right away,” Belov stated.

“You can even tell yourself ‘Everything is good, I am working,’ and at the same time you’re standing still. This is what I am afraid of. This is the reason I have always signed minimum term contracts, preferably for one year. I want to grow, progress and that’s why I made a decision to go to the NHL. I need to be demanding to myself until the end.”

Getty Images

By Dmitry Chesnokov

Sergei Bobrovsky is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. His 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage season nearly led the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for only the second time in team history. He may be the cover model for NHL 14.

Ah, yes: He’s a restricted free agent this summer. Translation: Sergei Bobrovsky is going to get paid.

The question is: Who’s paying him?

Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen said the two sides haven’t made any progress on a new contract. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Blue Jackets will extend a qualifying offer to Bobrovsky by the end of June to retain his rights. After that, he would be open to an offer sheet from another NHL team.

But there’s another suitor.

Some time in April, SKA St. Petersburg decided to go after Bobrovsky. I was told the money they are willing to offer is very good.

Getty ImagesAs impressive as the Toronto Maple Leafs were in their playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Mikhail Grabovski had a different experience. The forward had just two assists and was a minus-10 for the Leafs – a performance that came after a 9-goal, 7-assist one in 48 games this season.

I spoke with Grabovski about the Leafs’ playoff run; whether Game 7 was his worst loss of his career; his season under coach Randy Carlyle; his Datsyukian goal attempt; his incident with Max Pacioretty; and what the future holds.

Q. Let’s start with a couple of thoughts about the season.

GRABOVSKI: “The season turned to be positive overall. I wouldn’t say it was the best one for me or very successful, but it was certainly interesting, I gained a lot of experience.”

Yet it ended in a big disappointment. If you were asked to describe what happened in a few words, what would you say?

“I would say… You know, it is so difficult to describe it, very difficult to talk about it. It left a very bad feeling. But it was still an experience. It showed that as a team we are not yet ready to compete for the Stanley Cup. At the same time, we are almost there.”

Getty ImagesJust when you think Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov couldn’t get more, uh, interesting, he speaks about the virtues of Cold War leader and socialist icon Joseph Stalin while wondering what kind of conversation he’d have with Albert Einstein.

From a much longer interview here with journalist Maria Rogovskaya that can be found here (ED NOTE: Since removed), Byrzgalov said:

Q. All journalists try to interview you. And is there a person who you would like to talk to?

“A lot of them are not alive anymore… I would love to talk to Genghis Khan, Stalin, Einstein.”

Stalin is a very controversial figure. How do you feel about him?

“Positive. I see logic in his action. Not without going too far, of course. But he came to power in a country that had just lived through a revolution. There were so many spies, enemies, traitors there. A lot of people still had guns after the civil war. The country was in ruins, [people] needed to survive somehow. The country needed to be rebuilt, and in

Getty ImagesThe last World Cup of Hockey was held in 2004. A great hockey spectacle showcasing the world’s best players battling it out for their country was the successor of the equally historic Canada Cup that was held from 1976 to 1991. Since the last World Cup of Hockey there have been a few suggestions to bring the tournament back, especially in light of the desire of players involved to be able to play for their country at a high level tournament (no offence, IIHF World Championships).

The NHL, the NHLPA and the IIHF got together in Sweden recently to negotiate a lot of items on their agenda, including the new player transfer agreement and NHL’s participation in Sochi. As we reported Friday, the NHL is set to announce their agreement to send players to Russia next February in the coming weeks. A tentative break in the next NHL season set between February 9 and February 25 is planned.

But what we didn’t know is that the NHL is also set to revive the World Cup of Hockey. NHL.com’s Dan Rosen reported yesterday that the new player transfer agreement with the IIHF (minus Russia) included a provision for a cooperation for a World Cup of Hockey.

And Saturday morning, Vladislav Tretiak, President of the Russian Hockey Federation who was present at the meetings with the NHL, told Sovetsky Sport that the World Cup of Hockey will indeed be back. The first after a long absence will be held in August of 2016 in the same format as the last one in 2004.

Going through the rosters of the last World Cup, it is possible to see that a few players from each national team may play in 2016, like Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk for Russia, Vincent Lecavalier for Canada, Zdeno Chara for Slovakia. It is also evident how the US goaltender situation has improved over the years after seeing Ty Conklin, Rick DiPietro and Robert Esche tending the net for Team USA in 2004.

The resuscitation of the World Cup of Hockey also casts a shadow of a doubt of the NHL’s participation in any future Olympics beyond 2014 in Sochi.

GettyOn Friday morning, the news broke that the NHL, the IIHF and the IOC and other interested parties are close to an agreement about the League’s participation in the Sochi Olympics next year.

Executive Director of the Russian Hockey Federation Valeriy Fesyuk told Russian news agency RIA that the NHL may announce their participation as early as 10 days from now, after the conclusion of the IIHF World Championships that is being held in Sweden and Finland at this time. This is what Fesyuk said:

Q. According to our information, there is a big meeting being held in Stockholm these days that includes representatives from the NHL. Is it so?

FESYUK: “It is true, on Thursday there was a meeting with the NHL and the NHLPA. I think Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly came over. But that meeting was attended by the President of the Russian Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretiak [representing Russia], therefore, unfortunately, I don’t know all of the details. I only know that the meeting was about removing the last obstacles before the Olympics. These are small details: For example, the NHL is asking to designate a special area for family interactions, as well as, apparently, asking for some kind of assistance with insurance.”

So, this means that the yes or no answer whether NHL players will come to Sochi was not sought?

“No, it doesn’t matter here anymore. The North Americans want to secure more favorable conditions – that’s true. But the fact that the NHL will participate in the Olympics is not in doubt.”

Getty Images

Ilya Bryzgalov talks to SovSport's Pavel Lysenkov and KHL.RU's Alexander Shevchenko about Philly media. The text is taken from the video on the page.

At one point I think I started feeling sorry for Bryz, because he was just being sincere and people make fun of his unreasonably. But that's just my opinion.

Here's the conversation:

Q. Is there a serious longstanding conflict between the Philadelphia media and yourself?

BRYZ: “A conflict? A “broken telephone” exists everywhere. I’d say we have a very complex relationship.”

It seems at times that you skillfully change topics. They try to tell you that the price doesn’t reflect the quality, and you try to steer the conversation in a direction different from the questions asked. You tell them they don’t understand hockey, and they are trying to figure out your game. Is this the cause of the misunderstanding?

“Perhaps. It is very possible. They, journalists, are not the ones who should be worried when the price doesn’t reflect the quality. The management should be worried about that, and not journalists. They are not the ones paying me out of their pocket.”

What about the awkward rumor that you fell asleep during a team meeting? We in Russia laughed a little, of course. But how did you react to it?

“How could I react to that? It is just stupidity. They just started writing ridiculous things. What can you do? It got to the point when they started collecting who knows what.”

It looks like bullying.

“Not really bullying, but pure unprofessionalism.”

Why wouldn’t you approach one of the wiser, experienced ones to stop this?

“It is impossible. Because…. I don’t think they would ever want this…”

Getty ImagesThe Kharlamov Trophy is presented each year by Sovetsky Sport to the best Russian player in the NHL. Players themselves get to vote, picking the best three.

(The only players who didn’t vote were Alexander Semin and Ilya Bryzgalov, who said he doesn’t watch hockey and, therefore, can’t cast a vote).

This year it was a close three-horse race with Pavel Datsyuk edging out Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Datsyuk won the Kharlamov Trophy two years ago.

It was a difficult season for Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings. But one was almost certain that Pavel would come through with his magic. No wonder Siri knows only one “magic man”.

Last year’s Kharlamov Trophy winner Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin summed it all up:

“Pasha is always my number one. With the way he skates, his hands, his skills. Datsyuk is the player to imitate.”

Sovetsky Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov caught up with Datsyuk early last week to tell him the good news.

DATSYUK: “Thanks to all the players who voted for me,” Datsyuk said. “But Ovechkin and Bobrovsky had a great season as well. It was a tough start for Alex, some bad things were said about him. I am happy that Ovechkin proved the critics wrong. Sergei [Bobrovsky] came to Columbus, settled down, and his team got to the great level. They were a half point short, just like in chess, of making the playoffs. And the rise of Bobrovsky started this season with SKA [in the KHL]…”

How would you rate this season?

“The season is still on. But it’s great that Detroit made the playoffs. Although the year was a tough one for us.”