Recently, MayorsManor brought you the exclusive scoop on a confusing contract situation involving Kings 2012 draft pick Nikolay Prokhorkin (full story linked here).
In brief, LA signed the highly skilled Russian forward to a standard Entry Level Contract – under the assumption that he was free of all other commitments. Soon thereafter they were notified by the KHL that he was under contract with his team there through 2015.
Last week, we were told the NHL and the Kings had submitted their response to the situation and were still awaiting a reply from the KHL. How the situation will be resolved is still very much in debate.
This much is clear though – Prokhorkin has been skating in the Manchester Monarchs (AHL) training camp all week and we were just informed by team officials that he is slated to skate in tonight’s exhibition game vs. Bridgeport. [UPDATE: He ended up being a late scratch from the game. Weird…and interesting.]
How that impacts the current dispute between the two leagues is still in question.
Lurking in the background is actually another update on the situation as well. Prokhorkin was also selected in the OHL’s Import Draft this summer by the London Knights. However, yesterday they traded his rights to the Barrie Colts. For now, the 6-foot-2 Russian remains in the AHL though.
We’ll continue to bring you all the latest information on this entire story as it becomes available.
In the meantime, if you’d like to see Prokhorkin in action, tonight’s Monarchs game will be streamed live here starting at 3pm PST.
You can also catch a free replay of Monarchs coach Mark Morris on the MayorsManor show yesterday. He goes in-depth on several of the Kings top prospects, providing some very interesting insight on guys like Tyler Toffoli, Jake Muzzin, Martin Jones and many others. Don’t miss it, check it out here.
[UPDATE 10/23/2012: The NHL has set a grievance hearing for next Monday. Our source says the NHL admits he has a valid KHL contract, but the NHLPA is stalling. And reports have KHL President Alexander Medvedev saying this about the situation – “NHLPA, don’t test us. There is a good rule: an eye for an eye”]
Kopitar Out, Can Watch His Son Against Arizona
Per recent tradition, it will be the Kings and Coyotes in a pair of split-squad games to open up preseason on Tuesday night. LA captain Anze Kopitar will not suit up, but he will get a chance to watch his son … [Read More...]