Pavel Bure: I doubt the NHL will release Ovechkin and Kovalchuk without the necessary agreement

Russian hockey legend Pavel Bure spoke to Sport-Express about the Russian players in the NHL and the upcoming Olympic games in Sochi.

«The negotiations between the NHL and the Olympic committee about the participation of international stars from the League in the Olympics have already begun. Will their issues be resolved?»

«I hope that the NHL agrees to release all of its stars to Sochi. It would be a massively prestigious tournament and over half of its participants would be from the NHL.»

«Kovalchuk and Ovechkin claim they want to take part in those Games no matter what the cost is.»

«I doubt that it is a realistic promise. They have contracts with their clubs – who would let them go? We are just all hopeful that the NHL bosses will give the go-ahead.»

Talking about the prospects of some KHL players in the North-American league, the «Russian Rocket» picked out Alexander Radulov and Yevgeny Kuznetsov.

«I would agree with those who see Radulov and Kuznetsov as top players. They are from different generations, but both are playing superbly. They are cult heroes in our country. Kuznetsov is absolutely ready for the NHL, it is not too early for him to go.»