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Sr. World Championships -  Many prospects made the roster for the two friendly matches Team Russia will play in Italy on April 23rd and 24th. Vasily Koshechkin (Tampa Bay Lightning), Anton Khudobin (Minnesota Wild) and Sergei Bobrovsky are the goalies, with Khudobin most likely as starter. On the blue line Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) will make his first appearence, and will be joined by Vitaly Atyushov, Konstantin Korneev (Montreal Canadiens), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Evgeny Biryukov, Denis Denisov (Buffalo Sabres), Dmitri Vorobiev (Toronto Maple Leafs), Evgeny Ryasensky and Nikolai Belov. The forwards corps will be led by NHLers Maxim Afinogenov (Buffalo Sabres), Evgeny Artyukhin (Atlanta Thrashers), Artem Anisimov (New York Rangers) and Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs). First call for Vladimir Tarasenko and Nikita Filatov (Columbus Blue Jackets). Other players are Konstantin Gorovikov, Denis Parshin (Colorado Avalanche), Maxim Rybin , Evgeny Skachkov (St. Louis Blues), Anton Krysanov (Phoenix Coyotes), Mikhail Varnakov , Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Oleg Saprykin (Ottawa Senators).

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Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) -  HELSINKI, Finland -- Rookie defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) made perhaps the biggest move of training camp Tuesday by getting out of his contract with a Russian team and signing an entry-level deal with the Panthers. The team had until 5 p.m. EDT to sign Kulikov before he had to go back to his Quebec junior team. Before the Panthers could sign him, however, he had to be released from his Russian team in the Continental Hockey League. Kulikov's agent wired the money -- believed to be close to $50,000 -- to the team's bank account to get the release. The Panthers, upon hearing the buyout payment was made, quickly acted and signed Kulikov to a three-year deal. The contract has been sent to the league for approval. (The Miami Herald article by George Richards) READ MORE

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  As expected, Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) got freed up by his KHL team and signed an Entry Level Contract worth 3 years with Florida. Even if he signed, it doesn't mean he'll make the team straight up as he'll be evaluated in the first nine matches of the season. Once he passed the cut off he might be confirmed or either sent back to his junior team. Now we'll see if he can do it in the NHL on a regular basis.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  As we pointed out a couple of days ago, it looks like Evgeni Dadonov (Florida Panthers) signed an entry level deal with the Panthers despite a 2-yrs deal he was reported to sign less than two months ago. His coach in Traktor Andrei Nazarov commented the situation as it follows:

SKA and KHL fought for Joel Kwiatkowski, but all ended well as overseas they recognized his KHL contract. And a couple of days ago we were told that Florida wants to take away Evgeni Dadonov (Florida Panthers), who accordingly with KHL rules got a new 2-years contract. But it looks like Florida isn't worried.

What do you want to do now?

We might go to a law court. Or we could even ask Pavel Bure, who lives in Florida, to be our embassador and help us protecting our interests.

What, from your point of view, can be a realistic compensation for Dadonov?

We don't need a compensation, we need Dadonov. But if we speak about money, I'd say that with the current financial situation in the KHL our clubs, for a second-third rounder should obtain 500.000-1.000.000 dollars. With these money we can buy one or two good players.

Are you sure that Dadonov won't report on July 23rd, when Traktor's camp will start?

Opposite, I hope that in North America and his agent will change their mind. One year ago we let go Vyacheslav Voinov (Los Angeles Kings) who's now stuck in the AHL and stopped progressing. He doesn't understand how it works in America, if your trainer doesn't consider you, you won't get a chance and you'll be out from the team.

What would be your ideal ending?

We are ready to let Dadonov go, but only in 2 years, when his contract will run out. Or also, we can agree on a similar way as Washington with Varlamov, who was signed, but he kept on playing for Lokomotiv. Such an agreement would be good for both sides.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  As reported by North American sources, Evgeni Dadonov (Florida Panthers) might have signed an entry-level contract with the Panthers. But the situation is tricky because not more than two months ago Dadonov signed a two-years deal with his KHL hometown club, Tratkor Chelyabinsk. Although in a first time it looked like it was a done deal, thanks to Nazarov (Dadonov's coach in the KHL) words, now the situation embittered as Nazarov gave another interview in which he declared that he "is not going to release Dadonov in America. I wished him good luck as a player, but as a team's leader I can't release him. I await him in the team's training camp, which starts on July 23. If he won't we'll have to consider sanctions or penalties. When Dadonov finally will decide to leave to North America, we, all together, will solve this problem in accordance with the KHL rules. For now the question remains open." Nazarov also pointed out that the Panthers never announced Dadonov's sign officially. The situation is going to be cleared up probably this week.

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  Since the institution of the new CBA and since the NHL-IIHF agreement ran out, teams and fans started getting familiar with the infamous “Russian Factor”. 2009 had only seven players drafted from Russia, 2008 had 9, 2007 had only 9 as well and this includes players like Panthers’ Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers), who played in North America. In spite of the good quality up for grabs in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, it’s unlikely to see a much larger number of Russian players drafted. But does the Russian factor actually play significant a role? If we analyze the picks, it seems that the Russian factor is a bit overblown. (Premiumscouting.com article by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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Sr. World Championships -  In this Sportsdaily.ru interview by Dinara Kafiskina, Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) (Florida Panthers) talks about the World Championship in Germany, about his season with Florida and about life in North America. (Sportsdaily.ru interview by Dinara Kafiskina translated by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) -  Lokomotiv Yaroslavl's goalie Sergei Gaiduchenko (Florida Panthers) talked about his experience as temporary starter replacing the injured number one goalie Georgi Gelashvili, chatted about his girlfriend and explained his own plans for the future. (Konsomolskaya Pravda interview by Mikhail Kontuev translated by Alessandro Seren Rosso) READ MORE

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National Hockey League (NHL) -  ust got word from the Panthers that Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers) is going to stay with the team and the first year of his entry level deal will kick in tomorrow when he plays against Ottawa. Randy Sexton said this afternoon that Kulikov could stay throughout the season -- but if he starts to look like he's regressing, they have no problem sending him back to junior. (On Frozen Pond article by George Richards) READ MORE

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Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) -  Wednesday night Spartak Moscow faced KHL Gagarin Cup 08-09 runners-up of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl as usual in their home arena “Sokolniki”. The visiting team’s net have been defended by Sergei Gaiduchenko (Florida Panthers) (Florida Panthers) as their starting goalie Georgi Gelashvili is out with a hand injury. (Game report and prospects evaluation by Evgeny Belousov) READ MORE

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Super League -  Artem Ternavsky (Washington Capitals) scored the game winning goal with less than 10 minutes to play, upsetting HC Ak Bars. Sergei Gaiduchenko (Florida Panthers) was very strong in net, stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced. Konstantin Volkov (Toronto Maple Leafs) scored his first goal of the season for HC Vityaz. Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) collected another shutout, stopping all 25 shots he faced against HC Spartak. READ MORE

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Super League -  Alexei Yashin has arrived in the Super League, scoring his first goal and assisting on two others for HC Lokomotiv. Grigori Shafigullin (Nashville Predators) scored his second of the season after replacing injured Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins) on Ak Bars top line, skating with Alexei Morozov (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Danis Zaripov . Sergei Gaiduchenko (Florida Panthers) was impressive in Metallurg (Novokuznetsk)’s OT loss, saving his team on many occasions, but still not being able to stop the deciding shootout attempt from resurging Ruslan Zainullin (Calgary Flames), who earned his third tally of the season. READ MORE

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The Russian National Team coaching staff has announced the preliminary roster of Russia’s U20 national team that will compete in the eight matches of the Super Series against Canadian teams as part of the 35th anniversary celebrations since the 1972 Super Series between Soviet and NHL hockey stars.

GOALIES: Semen Varlamov (Washington Capitals) ("Lokomotiv"), Bobrovskiy Sergey ("Metallurg", Novokuznetsk), Vadim Zhelobnyuk ("Dinamo"). Nikita Davydov ("Salavat Yulaev"), Alexey Zhigarev ("Krylya Sovetov"), Galimov Stanislav ("Ak Bars").

DEFENSEMEN: Yuri Alexandrov (Boston Bruins) ("Severstal"), Igor Zubov ("Lokomotiv"), Pavel Doronin ("Salavat Yulaev"), Valery Zhukov ("Torpedo", Nizhniy Novgorod), Konstantin Alexeev ("Sibir"), Evgeniy Kurbatov ("Avangard"), Vyacheslav Voinov ("Traktor"), Alexey Grishin ("Vityaz", Chekhov), Maxim Chudinov ("Severstal"), Ivan Vishnevsky Kirill Tulupov (New Jersey Devils) (both Junior Leagues Quebece, Canada), Maximkin Ivan ("Lada"), Vasiliy Vinogradov ("Kapitan"), Alexey Ishmametev ("Metallurg", Magnitogorsk), Anton Danilov ("Lokomotiv"), Marat Kalimulin ("Lada").

FORWARDS: Alexander Vasyunov ("Lokomotiv"), Artem Anisimov (New York Rangers) ("Lokomotiv"), Alexander Ryabev ("Lokomotiv"), Andrei Popov (Philadelphia Flyers) ("Traktor"), Maxim Mamin ("Metallurg", Magnitogorsk), Anton Glovatsky ("Metallurg", Magnitogorsk), Sergei Zachupeiko ("Salavat Yulaev"), Mikhail Glukhov ("Khimik", Moskovskaya oblast), Ilya Kablukov (CSKA), Vyacheslav Solodukhin (SKA, Sankt-Peterburg), Alexey Cherepanov ("Avangard", Evgeni Bodrov ("Lada"), Egor Averin ("Avangard"), Sergei Korostin ("Dynamo"), Maxim Mayorov ("Ak Bars"), Nikita Filatov (CSKA), Evgeny Dadonov ("Traktor"), Kirill Petrov ("Ak Bars"), Vadim Golubtsov ("Lada"), Viktor Tikhonov ("Severstal"), Vladimir Zharkov (New Jersey Devils) (CSKA), Konstantin Kulikov ("Neftekhimik"), Pavel Fedulov (CSKA), Mikhail Milekhin (CSKA), Marat Fakhrutdinov ("Dinamo"), Sergey Ostapchuk ("Lokomotiv"), Igor Karpov ("Sibir"), Daniil Karpyuk ("Sibir").