Russians taken 1-2 in first round of draft

RALEIGH, N.C. -- History replaced mystery as top-rated forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin became the first Russian duo to be chosen with the first two picks in the NHL draft.

The choices came as a surprise to no one.

Ovechkin was the consensus top player available Saturday, and the Washington Capitals spurned several offers for the No. 1 pick and took the total package forward.

Malkin was rated second on virtually all ratings charts, and that's where he was picked by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Washington earned the right to go first by winning the draft lottery. After entertaining 15 trade offers, the Capitals decided the best move was to draft Ovechkin.

"We've had him rated No. 1 for a long time," Capitals general manager George McPhee said. "We could have done a trade for volume, but none of those players would have been as good as this guy."

Ovechkin, 18, was the overwhelming favorite before the NHL's Central Scouting department ranked him first among European skaters. He was praised for his speed, size and stickhandling as well as his willingness to jump back on defense.

"I've been waiting for this day for maybe two years," he said.

He might have to wait longer. Ninety-eight players -- 58 from North America and 40 from Europe -- were chosen in the first three rounds Saturday. The final six rounds will be held today.

But it's not clear when any of these players will step onto NHL ice. The league's collective bargaining agreement with its players expires Sept. 15 and, with no agreement near, a lockout is a distinct possibility.

Ovechkin's situation is even more complicated. The Russian Ice Hockey Federation indicated it might not be part of a new deal between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation because it wants more money for players its clubs lose to North America.

Moscow Dynamo has said it would demand cash from any NHL club that wants Ovechkin for next season because it still has him under contract. McPhee said he doesn't know yet how that will affect the Capitals.

In 53 games last season for Dynamo, Ovechkin had 13 goals and 10 assists. His father, Mikhail, is a former professional soccer player and his mother, Tatiana, won Olympic gold medals in basketball in 1976 and 1980.

Malkin is a 17-year-old forward who had three goals and nine assists for Magnitogorsk.

Ilya Kovalchuk, who tied for the NHL goal lead this season with 41, was the first Russian player to be chosen at No. 1, by Atlanta in 2001. Three other Russians have previously been picked No. 2.

A complete list of the first round can be found in Scoreboard on Page 4B.