The economy batters another team

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Mike Maneluk (Brandon) has transferred from Langenthal (Swiss NL B) to Lugano (Swiss NL A). Maneluk started the year with Dinamo Minsk (KHL) and has 12 goals and 19 assists in 28 games with Langenthal so far this season. Maneluk will remain with Langenthal until the end of their season (their regular season ends Tuesday; playoffs start Feb. 10), then transfer to Lugano full-time. However, due to injuries to Petteri Nummelin and Hnat Domenichelli, Maneluk will play for Lugano on Saturday night against Davos. Maneluk played for Lugano from 2001 to 2005 and scored 107 goals and 130 assists in 202 games during that time.
F Petr Vala (Seattle) signed with Zilina (Slovakia Extraliga) through the 2010-11 season after his release by Havirov (Czech 1.Liga). He had nine goals and 11 assists in 27 games for Havirov this season. . . . D Mike Egener (Calgary) has signed with Björklöven Umeå (Sweden Allsvenskan) for the rest of this season after he was released by Vita Hästen Norrköping (Sweden Division 1) earlier Friday. He had one goal and three assists in eight games for the White Horses, with whom he signed at the end of December. The GM for Vita Hästen, Håkan Sigfridsson, had good things to say about Egener. He says that they were not disappointed in Egener, just that they "had a little higher expectations. It is a shame because he is an amazing guy."
G Milan Hnilicka (Swift Current) has been loaned out from Liberec (Czech Extraliga) to Benátky nad Jizerou (Czech 1.Liga). Hnilicka has been out since mid-December for health reasons. He has appeared in 22 games with Liberec this season and has a 3.19 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. . . . D Harlan Pratt (Seattle/Red Deer/Prince Albert/Regina/Portland) signed with European Champions League champs Zurich Lions (Swiss NL A) for the rest of this season after his release by Cologne Sharks (Germany DEL) yesterday. In 42 games with Cologne, Pratt had one goal and seven assists.
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THE MAcBETH REPORT, Part 2: And now to the global economic crisis . . .
The Swedish Allsvenskan club Malmö Redhawks has told all of its players that they are free to break their contracts with the club and move to other teams, effective Thursday evening. Nine players have left the club already along with seven people from the front office who were let go. Eight junior players were called up and were to dress for Friday night’s game against Huddinge. The Swedish government lottery Svenska Spel removed the game from all of their betting games because there was no guaranteeing what kind of team Malmö would field.
This has been brewing since mid-September, when the current financial crisis made it "virtually impossible to sell any advertising to sponsors, etc." They made their December payroll of around three million Swedish crowns (about $440,000 Canadian) only because the former major sponsor of the club stepped in and paid it himself. Malmö's total player payroll is around 30 million Swedish crowns ($4.4 million Canadian) for the season, about the same as most Elitserien clubs and revenues are not enough to cover this.
According to the club's press release, "The Board's overall objective is to avoid bankruptcy for Malmö Redhawks to enable the non-profit youth and junior activities to continue."
The club also announced that it won’t make any payments on any existing debt, only on new and "entirely necessary costs to keep the business," and asks its creditors to "have patience with the situation."
Should the club not be able to reorganize itself successfully, it would have to go into bankruptcy. Bankrupt clubs are required under Swedish hockey regulations to drop down at least two levels. Malmö had hoped to regain a spot in Elitserien for next season and is currently nine points (three victories) out of a playoff spot in Allsvenskan.
It is unknown how many more players will leave the club. The
signing deadline in Sweden is Saturday at midnight.