The word "guarantee" also translates as "assurances" but no matter how it's read, 21 year-old winger Evgeny Dadonov - currently under NHL contract until 2012 - evidently has stated his intention to slink back to Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League if Florida does not promote him full-time from Rochester to the Panthers for the 2010-11 campaign. An amalgum of translation websites have produced the following comments from Dadonov, based upon this article at SportBox.ru:

"If Florida will give me the guarantee that I will play (in the NHL), then I will remain. If no clear promises are given (by the Panthers), if they do not give (me a) chance to appear, then I am ready to play for Traktor."

Rather bold for a guy with a grand total of four NHL games (zero points, -1) under his belt. He of course fared better with the Amerks, going 17-23-40 in 76 appearances in his first North American professional season.

Such an exclamation doesn't bode well for a club struggling mightily to implement a "team first" concept. This is not the type of headache Florida needs while juggling a dozen others; Sexton and company must treat this with a firm hand. Allowing an player not named Ovechkin or Crosby to determine his own fate while under contract is a recipe for future nastiness and a corrosive loss of credibility for the organization. That which remains, anyway. Stay tuned.

Thanks to The Copper & Blue's Derek Zona for the link.