Canadian Press

9/15/2006 6:02:27 PM

MOSCOW (CP) - The Evgeni Malkin saga is far from over.

A Russian arbitration tribunal issued a court order Friday prohibiting the Russian centre from playing in the NHL. But exactly what that means isn't clear.

"We are happy to review and consider anything that may be provided to us," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Canadian Press on Friday. "Having said that, we remain very dubious as to the validity or binding effect of a private arbitration panel's decision on the matters that are at issue here."

A Pittsburgh Penguins spokesman said Friday that Malkin would be at camp as scheduled this weekend. Pittsburgh's first pre-season game goes Tuesday night in Halifax against the Ottawa Senators.

Said Malkin's agent Pat Brisson: "Our legal advisors will respond at the appropriate time."

The Penguins signed the 20-year-old rookie to a three-year, entry-level contract Sept. 5 after he slipped out of Russia in late August.

The tribunal Friday ruled that Malkin can't play anywhere else other than Russian club Magnitogorsk, where he signed a new one-year deal just days before changing his mind and fleeing the country.

"Metallurg has several options," New York lawyer Alexander Berkovich, representing Magnitogorsk, told Reuters. "The first option is to seek enforcement of the Russian arbitration award in a U.S. court. This is pursuant to the (1958) treaty for the enforcement of tribunal awards to which both the U.S. and Russia are signatories. Other options for Magnitogorsk include filing a lawsuit against the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins in a U.S. court."

Metallurg knows Malkin won't return to play for them this season but wants financial compensation for his loss. The NHL is adamant it would not negotiate compensation packages with any Russian club after the Russians refused to sign the IIHF transfer agreement which other European countries belong to.

Malkin, the second overall choice behind Alexander Ovechkin in the 2004 NHL entry draft, had 21 goals and 26 assists in 46 games with Metallurg last season, his third with the Russian club. He's the early season favourite for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.