Dynamo deal for Havlat
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun

Martin Havlat is going to Russia with gloves.

As reported by the Sun yesterday, Havlat has agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million US contract with the Moscow Dynamo.

The Senators winger will leave next week to join the club after starting this season with Znojmo of the Czech Elite League.

"I'm waiting for the call from Canada to say that I can go back to the NHL, but it doesn't seem like that call is going to come this year," Havlat said last night from his home in the Czech Republic.

Russian teams have been spending big bucks to acquire locked-out NHL stars such as Havlat.

"The money that is being spent in Russia right now is just crazy," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen with the NHL this year, and I thought this was a good chance for me to go there and play."

Havlat admitted it's easier to play overseas because "you've got room to skate and you're not getting hit on every shift" due to the bigger ice surface.

"If it wasn't Moscow, I probably wouldn't go," he said. "You see some of these players going to small towns like Omsk where all they've got is a hockey team and not much else. I wouldn't have done that.

"Moscow is a good city. I've never been there, but I'm looking forward to the experience. This should be fun. The hockey is pretty good and Moscow has got a pretty good team."

Still, Havlat acknowledged he'd rather be suiting up for the Senators.

"Yes, it's good to play in these other leagues, but we know the NHL is still the best league in the world," he said.

Ottawa star Havlat agrees deal with Dynamo Moscow

PRAGUE (AFP) - NHL player Martin Havlat has agreed terms to play for Russian Superleague team Dynamo Moscow, his agent Josef Machala said.

The Ottawa forward who has played for Czech side Znojmo this season during the NHL lockout, is the third Czech player to join the Superleague this season.

He follows Jaromir Jagr, who signed with Omsk at the weekend, and defenceman Karel Rachunek, who joined Yaroslavl.

"We reached agreement yesterday. Dynamo's interest was great and Martin got a lucrative offer that cannot be refused," Machala said.

Havlat, 23, junior and senior world champion, has played 12 games with the Czech Elite League's Znojmo this season, scoring ten times and adding four assists.

Havlat is due to fly to Russia next week and to report to the club by November 20.

"At the moment, we are waiting for the visa to be processed," Machala said.

Havlat signs with Moscow Dynamo

Canadian Press

11/10/2004

Winger Martin Havlat of the Ottawa Senators is the latest NHL star to join the Russian league, officially joining Moscow Dynamo on Wednesday.

The Czech native transferred from Znojmo of the Czech league and will likely play his first game with Dynamo next week.

``From Martin's perspective, having the chance to go to Russia and play in a very competitive league, he's really looking forward to being part of that,'' Havlat's agent Allan Walsh said Wednesday from Los Angeles.

It's believed Dynamo will play Havlat $1.2 million US to play the rest of the season.

At Dynamo, Havlat will join up with Detroit Red Wings star centre Pavel Datsyuk as the Russian league continues to load up on the top NHL talent by throwing some big-time money around at the league's top locked-out players.

Havlat scores $1.2M deal in Russia
By BRUCE GARRIOCH, Ottawa Sun

Martin Havlat is on the move. The Sun has learned that the Senators winger is the latest NHLer to be wooed to Russia for big money after sources say he agreed to a $1.2-million US contract with Moscow Dynamo yesterday.

LEAVING CZECH CLUB

While the deal won't be complete until he signs the contract today --which includes an out-clause if there's an NHL season -- Havlat will leave Znojmo of the Czech Elite League where he's been playing since the lockout started.

Havlat was travelling in Europe and couldn't be reached for comment last night. Havlat will join Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk on a line with Kings prospect Pavel Rosa, who played his junior hockey with the Hull Olympiques.

10 GOALS

Sources say Senators GM John Muckler and assistant GM Peter Chiarelli were informed of Havlat's decision yesterday. He has 10 goals and 14 points in 12 games with Znojmo, but wanted to make the move.

Several NHLers -- including Jaromir Jagr, Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Nikolai Khabibulin, Garth Snow and Fred Brathwaite -- have made the jump to Russia because the salaries are competitive with the NHL.

Ottawa forward Martin Havlat was ready to play with Geneva of the Swiss Elite League, but will instead remain in his native Czech Republic, playing for his hometown team Znojmo.

The Geneva team, it turned out, was one of several teams that Los Angeles Kings owner Phillip Anschutz partially owns.

Anschutz is insisting that any NHL player who signs with any of Anschutz’s European teams not be given an escape clause that would let him return to the NHL this season. Havlat doesn’t want to make that commitment.

“It’s important for me to keep playing,” Havlat said. “I’m a young player and I need to do this if I’m going to keep improving. I’d rather be in Ottawa, but right now this is a good place for me.”

Ottowa's winger Martin Havlat has confirmed he will play for Znojmo, a Czech hockey team which plays near his native Brno, until the National Hockey League lockout is over. In recent weeks, several big name Czech players such as Jaromir Jagr have already returned home from North America to the play for local Czech teams. If the NHL season resumes, Havlat said he would return to Ottawa immediately.

It appears Martin Havlat will be going from Czech to cheque. The Senators winger returned to Ottawa yesterday after the Czech Republic was eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday night and is expected to sign a new contract with Ottawa later this week.

As reported by the Sun yesterday, the 23-year-old is close to a one-year deal in the $2.3-million US range, but sources say there's still paperwork to be completed.

If there's an NHL lockout, the possibility still exists Havlat could play in Europe -- either in the Czech Republic or Switzerland -- but a contract with the Senators guarantees he will be in Ottawa once a new collective bargaining agreement is put in place.

...

Czech left winger Martin Havlat agreed the game was a thrill to be involved in, but couldn't mask his disappointment at being on the losing side of the ledger.

"It was a great, great game for the fans to watch," Havlat said.

"I thought we showed a lot of character the way we didn't quit and I thought we should have won. Tonight, the better team lost."

The Senators are on the verge of signing winger Martin Havlat, the Sun has learned. While neither Havlat nor his agent, Allan Walsh, could be reached for comment last night, sources say Havlat is expected to sign a one-year contract believed to be in the $2.3-million US range.

...

"I didn't feel very good at all; I couldn't really do what I wanted," Jagr, his head down, all but whispered. "Of course I'm frustrated, but I'm not going to make an excuse. It's disappointing for me, but I'm very proud of the way my teammates played, especially guys like Patrik Elias and Martin Havlat."

...

"Brodeur is going to play. He's the kind of guy who will play in a big game like this. He wouldn't miss this,'' said Czech winger Martin Havlat of the Senators. ''If he doesn't play, they've got other great goalies, but we think he'll be in there."

"Brodeur's great, Luongo's great, it doesn't matter," said right winger Martin Havlat, tied for the team scoring lead with two goals and two assist. "We have to be ready."