Reports out of Russia are saying that Montreal 2006 5th round draft pick Pavel Valentenko with be leaving his team, Neftekhimik from the RSL (Russian Super League) to join the Montreal Canadians. Pavel's stock rose considerable last year with his play in the RSL and also with his all-star performance at the 2006 World Junior Championship for team Russia. In the tournament he scored 2 goals and chipped in with 1 assist while posting a solid +3 rating. He was also a final cut from the Russians mens World Hockey Championship which says a lot for the 6'2, 202lbs, 19 year old. If he had made the team he would have played alongside present Hab Allstar Andrei Markov and another Hab draft pick Alexei Emelin. Valentenko will most likely start the year in the AHL with Montreal's top pro affiliate The Hamilton Bulldogs.
On a side note the Habs effort to get Alexei Emelin over to North America looks like it has failed. There was optimism that he would be joining Valentenko over in NA because his team, Lada, was unable to pay the contracts of its players for the last few months. Emelin tried to take the team to court to get his contract voided, which has 1 year left on it. His team ended up paying him the money he was owed and therefore was unable to void his contract. With the chances of Russia signed the recent player transfer agreement not looking good look to see Emelin skate along side his Russian counterpart in early 2008 with the Bulldogs.
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