Oleg Saprykin spotted in Washington

Unconfirmed reports say Oleg Saprykin - believed to have been lost at sea in the crash of Air Russia's Moscow-bound plane from Boston - has been spotted in several locations.

Missy Krauss, a college student at American University who hails from Boston, said she was driving home from her job at a nearby Starbucks when a hoodie-clad young man darted across the street in front of her. As she slammed her brakes on, the sweatshirt donning fellow stared at her, then darted off like a deer on the highway. "I'm a life long Bruins fan, courtesy of my father, the jerk," Krauss said. "What torture, you know? Anyway, I've been following the negotiations with Oleg and the team, and was near tears when I heard he had been killed in that plane crash. I'm sure as heck certain that Oleg Saprykin is the guy who I almost hit."

The statement would give validation to the report that Saprykin snuck off the plane with the kitchen crew before it took off. While Saprykin is not suspected of having any involvement in the plane crash, it would be fortuitous timing for him that it happened to crash when he got off board.

Another man, speaking anonymously, reported seeing Saprykin hanging around the MCI Center in Washington, home of the Capitals. "I'm not saying he was there for hockey," the man was quoted, "But I thought I saw him talking to the big boss. Somethin' seemed sneaky about it, I tell you."

If this is true, and Saprykin had approached the General Manager of the Washington Capitals while still a restricted free agent of the Bruins, there could be tampering charges involved. However, it is of course not known if the Caps GM is a part of this scheme or if he was approached unknowingly of the situation.