Russian Hart Trophy Finalists – Ramble – April 30, 2009

Richard Zednik has signed to play for Lokomotiv of the KHL next season.

The Flyers have signed prospect rearguard Joonas Lehtivuori to an entry level deal. He was their fourth round pick in 2006, but has little fantasy value.

Eric Tangradi, ranked 47th on my Fantasy Prospects List, underwent surgery to repair a complete laceration in his left hand. He will be out for three months, which means he should be okay for camp.

The Pens will probably rotate Sykora and Satan – going with the hot hand. We will see Sykora again.

Because Rockford was eliminated from the AHL playoffs, the Hawks recalled Crawford, Niemi, Hendry, Pelletier, Brophey and Bickell.

All three Hart Trophy nominees are Russians – Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk. Makes you wonder why the league doesn't work harder on a transfer agreement with that country.

Mike Richards will indeed have surgery on both shoulders. The right will be done today, the left will be done in mid-May. He'll be back to normal by late August. He claims the sore shoulders did not hamper his play throughout the season.

James Neal took a high stick from Ladislav Nagy in the Worlds and it cut his upper and lower eyelid. It started bleeding quickly and apparently the fact that he had a contact lens saved his eyeball – his career could have ended just like that. The Stars hope he will be ready for the fall.

David Poile has arrived in Switzerland and expects to meet with Alexander Radulov within a week or two.
Nashville prospect Jonathan Blum will join Milwaukee of the AHL once he gets the go-ahead by doctors. He was banged around a lot in his last WHL series.