Penguins C Evgeni Malkin "has agreed to a contract to play" for KHL club Metallurg Magnitogorsk "if the start of the 2012-13 NHL season is delayed by a lockout," according to reports in Russia. Malkin's agent, J.P. Barry, confirmed that his client "has spoken with teams in Moscow and Magnitogorsk about a week-to-week agreement that would allow him to play during a lockout, if there is one, but that nothing has been finalized" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/28). Lightning RW Martin St. Louis said that he "will play in Europe this season if the NHL locks out its players for an extended period" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/28).
CBA talks resume today at NHL HQs in N.Y., and many players "expect the league to submit another plan" today. Penguins RW and NHLPA rep Craig Adams said that "many peripheral issues have been resolved" (PITSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/28). There will be "only four men at the table" for today's talks: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr and NHLPA outside counsel Steve Fehr. Donald Fehr said, "Hopefully we'll be productive when we get to it. ... I have always believed that there is enough time" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 8/27).
