So the NHL is "negotiating"* with Alexander Medvedev's Continental Hockey League in wake of the (genuine?) rumours that Evgeni Malkin will be "poached" by the new Russian setup.

Is this upstart going to provide the European rival to the NHL that many would like? Or is it merely a cunning ploy by Malkin's agent? Or a money-laundering scheme for Russian billionaires? Or something else entirely.

* scare quotes denote terms used by G&M.