Battle sure to ensue over Radulov's three-year, $13 million Russian deal
Alex Radulov has reportedly signed a deal to play in Russia next season, despite being under contract with the Predators (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ken Campbell
2008-07-11 11:44:26
The agent for Alexander Radulov wouldn’t say whether or not he approves of his client’s decision to sign a three-year contract with Salavat Ufa in Russia, but he did acknowledge that the Continental Hockey League team offered so much money that it put Radulov in an almost untenable situation.
“On the basis of what he was offered, I would think that most people would come to a similar conclusion,” Jay Grossman said of Radulov’s decision to sign a deal with Ufa despite the fact he still has a year remaining on his contract with the Nashville Predators. “I don’t think it was ever his intention to leave Nashville on bad terms. It was more a case of the phenomenal offer he received. It was staggering.”
How staggering? The three-year deal is worth a total of $13 million tax-free. With a tax rate of about 35 per cent in Tennessee, that means the deal is actually worth almost $18 million, which means Radulov will make the equivalent of $6 million a season if the deal is not quashed by the KHL. If he plays in Nashville this season, Radulov will make $984,000 before performance bonuses on the last year of his three-year entry-level contract.
The new agreement between the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation to not poach players under contract hasn’t even been put into writing yet, but it has already received its first test with the Radulov signing.
IIHF spokesman Szymon Szemberg said the contract with Ufa is, “a flagrant breach of the agreement.”
The NHL and the IIHF, along with KHL executive Alexander Medvedev, came to an agreement Thursday in Zurich not to poach players under contract to the other league. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was apparently informed just after the meeting about reports that Radulov had signed with Ufa, and told the IIHF to order the KHL to nullify the Radulov contract if there is one.
Predators’ GM David Poile did not return calls placed to him, but through a Predators spokesman said the organization still considers him team property and expects him to be in training camp in September.
In any event, Szemberg said the IIHF will enforce the peace agreement immediately.
“The IIHF will tell the KHL to not allow this contract according to what all the parties agreed to (Thursday),” Szemberg said.
Grossman, who is a certified agent NHL Players’ Association agent and, as such, would be unable to negotiate a contract that contravenes the agreement, said the negotiations and the deal were done by a Russian agent. But he did acknowledge that he was in close contact with Radulov through the entire process.
Radulov had already told the Predators he preferred to play at home, which was a contributing factor in his decision, Grossman said. But the money Ufa offered him was a much bigger factor.
“He did not make this decision on the spur of the moment,” Grossman said. “It was well thought out. What was the overriding factor in his decision was that he would be the third- or fourth-highest paid player in that league.”
There is little doubt the NHL will push very hard for the KHL to reject the contract, but all that might do is delay Radulov’s exit to Russia by one year. And if Radulov were forced to turn his back on all that money and return to the NHL against his will, the Predators wouldn’t exactly have a happy player on their hands.
When asked whether the deal will stand up, Grossman said, “I have no idea. I would have to defer that to the Nashville Predators and the NHL and the KHL and whoever else is involved.”
BC Preds Fan (Posted 2008-08-17 01:02:39)
Radz is a competitor first and foremost. That is why he came to the NHL. He wanted to play against the best players in the world and show his skills. Too bad he was never given a chance. The preds constantly sent him back and forth between the AHL and NHL and really only gave him one real opportunity to prove what he could do (last season playing with Dumont and Arnott). I am a diehard preds fan but I can not believe that they wouldn't give a guy with that much talent a chance to show what he can do. Especially since they are lacking offensive superstars. Either way I totally understand his desicion to go back and play in Russia. He was certainly due for a raise following the 2008-09 season but he would never have made the kind of money he will in Russia because of the taxes. I just wish he would have waited one more season and see what kind of offer the Predators would give him. I'm sure it would have been a substantial raise and close to the Russia contract. May as well let him leave now knowing that he doesn't want to play here anyways. Enjoy Russia Alex. It won't be the same here without you!!!
Hawks Fan (Posted 2008-07-17 10:49:12)
I agree that he should have to honor his contract. Then next summer he can go play in Russia. He only has a small window of opportunity to make money as a hockey player and Russia may be his best shot to do so. But he can't walk out on a deal he already agreed to. Plus he may find that money isn't everything when he gets there. Martin St. Pierre went there a year ago and came back to the Hawks after like 2 months. He said he couldn't take the living conditions. So Radulov may be getting 13 million tax free, but there is a reason they are paying him that much to go there. They have to overspend because no one wants to go there.
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-16 03:48:39)
Petr, your post is also full of stupid stereotypes that have nothing to do with reality. If anything the Euros have brought great speed and skill to the NHL. The whole softness is a bunch of BS. There are plenty of hard Euros and soft Canadians. And as far as diving goes all of them do it. The Canadians dive just as much. As for clutching, hooking and grabbing again the Canadians are pros at that part of the game. Thankfully, this is has been cleaned up to a large extent in recent years so that skilled players are actually allowed to show what they can do instead of getting abused by bums who can barely skate. I'm in awe of how many North American fans hate the new rules. You guys would really like to go back to the clutch and grab hockey of a few years ago? Really? That is hockey to you? I stopped watching because I couldn't take it anymore. Hockey had all the life sucked out of it and became boring as hell with very few scoring chances or good plays. Now it's back to how the game should be played so I'm back as a fan. I love hitting and physical play as much as anyone and that is still there. Maybe even more so because all the interference has been taken out.
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-16 03:32:53)
I love how nowhere in the North American press it's mentioned that Jason Krog who just signed with Vancouver has a current contract with KHL's Severstal Cherepovets that he just signed in May. Regardless of the status of the player this is no different than the whole Radulov saga, but since it goes the other way the North American media and the NHL prefer to keep this fact to themselves. Double standard, as usual.
Bob Allisat (Posted 2008-07-14 12:09:29)
UFA is in another country and another league. The NHL imagines itself to be dominant in the world. That may have been so once upon a time. Soon it won't be that way and players will move freely without all the owners' stupid human slavery like restrictions. Waydago Radulov and more to come! Malkin may be the one to blow the whole thing open...
Timothy Hoinkis (Posted 2008-07-14 10:10:16)
Hey guys, turn about is fair play... And the US teams have even less to complain about. The US dollar has kept Canadian teams at "arms reach" for years. Does Malkin, and others in the past, ring a bell? But I agree that a player under contract is UNDER CONTRACT. Period.
JW Cole (Posted 2008-07-14 01:08:42)
Bob, what kind of logic is that. Nashville has a legitimate contract that was signed by Radulov not under duress. I suppose your mortgage company or landlord should be able to tear-up your contract and raise your interest rate/lease because interest rates/rents are rising. Sure.
chris (Posted 2008-07-14 00:59:55)
I think hippo critter is bang on.Why doesn't Nashville just match the offer?
Bob Allisat (Posted 2008-07-13 20:38:16)
Szemberg and the IIHF are irrelevant. And didn't anyone ever mention to ya'll that a verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on? Radulov is a free person. He is as free as you or I to go where he pleases to work. The feudal system of player's rights ownership is due to be overturned. Only problem is the rather authoritarian nature of life in the "new" Russia. Where no matter how much they talk of democracy tough guys still get exactly what they want because they have the most money, guns, power, influence or all of the above. So poor old Radulov is at their mercy basically. And if they will it - it will be so. If not - most definitely not. Bettman and his little thug buddy ownership trust have little or nothing to do with the outcome of this fellow's story.
Goose Baby LIttle Guy Love Ta (Posted 2008-07-13 20:22:36)
every player who goes to play in Russia is a communist!!!!!
Petr (Posted 2008-07-13 16:19:23)
NHL is taking the dose of its own medicine. It was NHL who set the scene of not taking Euro contracts seriously. On the other hand Radulov will not be missed. After this, I don't think he can come back to Nashville and pretend nothing happened. Also, it is not an NHL contract negotiation on his side since he's still on entry level contract and can't make more than what's allowed under CBA.
I wish for pre-90's NHL with less Euros and all they brought to the game (diving, dirty little hooks, softness, slower game, Swedish trapping etc.). Bring back the 80's!!
Andy (Posted 2008-07-13 15:52:42)
I'm just saying that they don't seem to care about top level play in the NHL they just want more money. I understand that we need these players to generate exciting hockey, but how about some exciting with passion for the game not how much is in the pocket book. I didn't mean to imply that I could take anyones job in the NHL, I should rephrase by saying let the hockey players stay and the greedy leave no matter where they are from.
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-13 14:31:06)
Andy, if you were as good as they are or better you would have already taken their jobs. As a fan I like to watch top level competition with the best players available, regardless of where they come from.
Pedro, you're a moron. There's really nothing else to say about your post. You can't even spell the word "turd" correctly. That indeed shows your "Americanism" in full force. Not being able to write 2 sentences in your own language. One more thing, Radulov is definitely NOT washed up.
Andy (Posted 2008-07-13 13:18:37)
Let em go...who cares, it's not about sports it's about the money. It's funny how we Americans bitch about getting ripped off and honering contracts and so forth....yet we do that to everybody allllllllll the time. So I say as a hockey lovin american(and a very happy San Jose Sharks fan HAHAHA Tampa!) I say let em go and let us North Americans take their jobs and money. Go Sharks!!!
Marian Hossa (Posted 2008-07-13 01:04:59)
Me..I love hockey,i've used to play hockey in Europe,it's diffrent here,but combination with canadian style becomes supreme,its like good marriage..Europians like to play hockey with brain,not muscles.Didn't want to offend anybody...peace..
Eurodude (Posted 2008-07-12 23:08:06)
Hey Pedro, do you think that bitch-slapping a few Frankfurt street-walkers around is a sufficiently display of "Americanism"? ...I guess that was the end of the Ray-gun era so they were probably "tough" trannies that you got your rocks off on. You should try that in Minsk, they never find the parts of you...tough guy. We are all very impressed with you in Europe, maybe we'll even re-value your dollar after all your tough talk. Well. maybe no...eat big mac tough guy.
Pedro (Posted 2008-07-12 22:56:50)
Hey Euroterd, I agree with Vic......BTW wayyy back in 1989, I was in Frankfurt, some German youth spotted my buddies and I, they screamed F---ing Americans and came after us, we did nothing but having military haircuts, there was 7 of them and 4 of us. So why do you think I say Euros are soft? We walked away after giving them a dose of Americanism. You see there are reasons some people don't like others and why some opinions will never change. Let the Russians take all the washed up players they want, it will inspire a new rivalry and a pay-per-veiw summer classic which some of US will refer to as Euro-trashing.
Dougie (Posted 2008-07-12 21:44:14)
If I was Poile I would just let him go!!!If he doesn't want to play here than I say GOODBYE!!!!There are enough North American players to take up the slack.
Hippo-critter (Posted 2008-07-12 19:54:50)
Right! We must all honor our agreements and contracts...unless we are the Toronto Maple Leafs and suddenly wish that we hadn't given our players no trade clauses. Then we don't have to honor our contracts (within our own franchise AND league, mind you) because, well, we don't want to, and Maple Leafs fans and the Maple-media all agree that we shouldn't have to. I mean, if we had to do it all over again OBVIOUSLY we wouldn't have gien those guys like McCabe those kinds of contracts, so, it's a no brainer, we can pretend we never signed those contracts. Now those sneaky Ruskies on the other hand, they MUST play by our rules (which we reserve the prerogative to change as the mood suits us)...
Alan C. (Posted 2008-07-12 18:08:22)
I tend to think we should do what we agree to do (i.e., honor our contracts), and yet Radulov was offered 6 times what he was going to make in the NHL this year (considering no taxes) and 18 times the value of his existing contract. If a school teacher signed a contract for $50,000 for a year, and then another school came along and offered $300,000 for each of three years for a total of $900,000, which of us would advise that teacher to honor their contract? You'd have to be crazy. If Radulov blows a knee or gets post concussion syndrome this year, his earnings potential is over. If he takes this deal with the KHL, he should be set for life regardless of what happens. I can empathize with his decision to jump ship -- it was a very reasonable decision to make.
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-12 17:35:30)
Joe D, I would think that Poile would not agree with you. Nashville would be losing one of their most gifted offensive players with no replacement in sight.
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-12 17:33:52)
Scott, do you have an expectation for Radulov to be a Nostradamus? Just wondering. The KHL didn't exist until this season so what does his decision have to do with him coming over to play Canadian junior hockey many years ago?
Joe D. (Posted 2008-07-12 17:28:23)
how do you say good riddance in Russian?.... even if Radulov's obliged to respect his contract with Nashville he'll be unhappy and lack motivation....
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-12 17:25:22)
First let me say that I don't like players not honoring their current contracts and hope that this deal is nullified by the KHL.
At the same time it makes me laugh how all the North Americans are up in arms about this. Where were you when the NHL was constantly doing this to Euro clubs? Right, you didn't care. It's that attitude that we can do whatever we want because we're better than everybody else that pisses everyone off about your lot.
People who are saying that Radulov is just a no talent bum are just plain stupid and have zero hockey knowledge. He's a legitimate NHL star and one of the best players for his NHL club, Nashville last season.
People who are saying that they'd love to see the NHL without Europeans are also stupid as hell and have zero hockey knowledge. Look at the stats over the past few years. The Euros are now the NHL's biggest stars who provide the league with a large portion of its most skilled players. I guess you guys want to watch a bunch of Canadian and American bums who currently ply their trade in the minors replace players like Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, etc.
Who knows, you just might get your wish and get to see a bunch of crappy players bump and grind in the 2nd best league in the world while the real fans of the game will be watching the KHL for the skill, speed and beauty of the game instead of constant physical contact between burly men, which you seem to enjoy more.
ranndino (Posted 2008-07-12 17:07:06)
Jono, first of all there is hitting in the Russian league. Not nearly as much as in the NHL, but... This is completely irrelevant to the matter. If you were offered $6 million a season instead of $1, what would you do? And as far as the NHL being the best league in the world... yes, it is, for now. The KHL is just starting up. The level of the league depends on the players who play in it, doesn't it? If, a few years down the line, the KHL signed all the best players which league would be the best?
Marian Hossa (Posted 2008-07-12 16:28:42)
Mark Recchi.....LOL..I know what you talking about ...LOL..been there..
jono (Posted 2008-07-12 15:43:17)
but would'nt they want to play in the BEST league the world i guess they don't like getting nailed go back to russia were u won't even get pushed
Eurodude (Posted 2008-07-12 14:31:57)
hmmm, Vikrant you are a serious TOOL aren't you? You're a tool because 1) You're the reason the NHL is circling the drain: a typical brain dead bigoted fan that decent people would try to crowd away from like the dude on the subway who just soiled himself - oddly that IS what sports fans are doing, crowding away from the NHL because of the TOOLs like you who don't just watch but actually think it BELONGS to you, not the athletes who play it. 2) You're a MASSIVE TOOL because - being a walking parody of a sprts fans yourself, you don't UNDERSTAND IRONY. You need some clown shoes to go with that 'tude you're sporting. European players miss their homelands more when they read comments by TOOLS like you.
Mark Recchi (Posted 2008-07-12 14:24:54)
Send Crosby to the KHL, that will drive ALL those Russian players back to the NHL just to get away from his big yap.
Vikrant Grewal (Posted 2008-07-12 14:23:04)
Hey Eurodude.... if the NHL really is the best league...? Take all your Euro's - I'll take my Canadian (and American) players over them every day of the week. Oh and before you bring up the World Championships - let me remind you how Canada has been tooling your Junior teams in both the world juniors and the Summit Series ...see you in 2010 buddy.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-12 14:14:48)
I wonder if the KHL would be interested in signing Bettman to run it? Maybe the NHL could resort to old rules and, with mostly Canadian and American players, go back to being entertaining on the ice.
Ted Saskin (Posted 2008-07-12 13:46:00)
Math is not my strongest suit - my Armani is - but I just can't get my head around this one about the KHL:
"Rosters must be not larger than 25 players, with a maximum of five international players. In any single game, teams will only be able to ice four internationals."
Seems to me the Russkies can't sign everybody.
Alex Kovalev (Posted 2008-07-12 13:40:08)
Yo Guys, you heard it here first, I'm not showing up for training camp is fall, it's back to Russia for me as well!
Eurodude (Posted 2008-07-12 13:27:47)
This whole thing underscores the absurdity that abounds in the NHL and its fan base. For years the NHL has poached players from European leagues, specifically Russian players, with impunity and not even a murmur from NHL fans about 'contractual obligations' and so forth. An agreement between these leagues is only now in the works because the NHL is threatened. So much for Campbell's week-old dismissal of the KHL or all of your fans who have pronounced it an AHL with big paychecks. If the NHL realy is the "best" league (and that will remain to be seen in the next few years) it has only remained so by aborbing the best players from around the world. Now maybe it won't be able to do that, and pretty soon "best" might just sound like more xenophobic grandstanding - because it's not like THAT doesn't fuel the NHL the way that middle eastern oil runs the USA...
7.90 (Posted 2008-07-12 13:07:05)
Hey pattiodaddio, is that going to be a bad thing? Allowing the DIVE team to swim back across the ocean? The Radulov thing is eye-opening, a young, talented player is poached. Chalk one up for the Ruskies for getting a player that isn't a has been. Regardless of what happens, the rivalry is brewing again and the next Summit series will actually have some meaning now.
lala (Posted 2008-07-12 12:42:40)
Radulov must be tired of playing in front of a empty arena.
Marian Hossa (Posted 2008-07-12 12:12:45)
Jozef Stumpel and Brilyn signed in Russia..uff,how many more NHL players will end up in Russia?
patiodaddio (Posted 2008-07-12 11:46:46)
With the dollar shrinking and a yearn to play at home,especially when they are heaping gold debloons on you,the NHL has a big problem in keeping the europeans in the league.The exodus is on....
Little Zuri (Posted 2008-07-12 10:59:36)
Radulov must have taken the course Contracts 101 given by Prof Alexei Yashin!! If and when he should decide to return to the NHL (although why anyone would want him at that point) he will still owe the Preds a year at his current contract terms and salary and I woud hope that they would enforce that - in the minors.
It's about time that these Russian punks who suddenly start making the big bucks be taught a lesson.
Ted Kanakis (Posted 2008-07-12 10:19:19)
Hey folks - this shouldn't be news, but we haven't had involuntary or indentrured servitude in North America since the 1860s. Any contract agreement pertains only to service within the NHL. In other words, signing with an NHL team only guarentees that the player won't be playing with another NHL team during that time period. Playing in any other league (except those related to the NHL) is fair game. There is no judge in the land going to order a player to put on his skates and get onto the ice; and even if he did, no one could physically make the player play well. Coughing up the puck in your own zone a few times a game ought to cure that mindset. So the real issue is whether the NHL will remain the world's elite league. Inter-league agreements are practically all BS anyways (as are any agreeements made under duress). So the one way the NHL could guarentee its contracts are honored is to pass a rule that disqualifies a player from an NHL contract for X years, if they renege on an NHL contract to play elsewhere. Pretty simple answer to the problem.
rabbit43 (Posted 2008-07-12 10:15:37)
edog,Strange as it sounds I think Scai is correct because I know calling a frenchman a frog is also considered a racial remark!
Edog (Posted 2008-07-12 10:03:27)
Hey Scai,
What "race" do Russians belong to?
Chris Silcox (Posted 2008-07-12 08:10:26)
Anyone that does what Radulov is doing is simply a piece of trash. If he didn't want to be in the NHL then he shouldn't have signed the initial contract. I get sick of people saying "but it's so much money." He makes more money in one year with his current contract than most people in this country make in 20 years. I get so sick and tired of it being all about the money for these overpaid, overpampered, crybabies.
Dwight Thomas (Posted 2008-07-12 03:29:40)
If this is allowed to happen I wonder what UFA would say if say a team in one of the other European leagues (Czech, Swedish, Swiss etc) was to sign Radulov next year for even more money with 2 years left on his contract? Oh well tough luck for us...... I don't this so!
Maybe players should negotiate out clauses in their contracts when they sign them similar to what most European players do.
yeroc (Posted 2008-07-12 02:00:55)
The problem is Radulov grew up in a system where any sporting contract was just a `two week notice`from being nullified...clearly not the same as the North American standard. Doesn`t make it right...but who in their right mind wouldn`t take 13 million if they had the chance. What if next season he gets run over by pronger and has a major concussion...good luck getting the equivalent 6 million a year from the NHL. He looks like a jerk, but makes a good business decision.
Eldrick (Posted 2008-07-12 01:54:19)
Scai- The misuse of your racist doma aligns the rest of your words and views as complete garbage.
g-moe (Posted 2008-07-12 01:48:12)
forget this, did you Preds fan here you traded for Ryan Jones?? this guy WILL make an impact; you Preds fans will become instant Jones fans.
bill (Posted 2008-07-11 22:15:55)
preds will survive. rads has talent but he is no malkin!! poile is the best gm and he will have the preds right back in the playoffs. what will happen when khl starts offering north american born players 5 times what the nhl pays?
K.D. (Posted 2008-07-11 20:56:42)
I don't see the problem. What has Radulov done that would warrant anyone in their right mind want to keep him. He is a spoiled selfish little garbage hockey player who should go to Russia where his non talent will be appreciated. Quit paying these bums money and let the better hockey players play in the NHL.
Tom (Posted 2008-07-11 20:29:01)
Who wouldn't accept an offer to go home and make what is essentially six times your current salary. As long as his contract is bought out I see nothing wrong with this. Contracts aren't completely binding and as long as his leaving Nashville is properly negotiated then he should be free to go.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-11 20:26:04)
Make it so any player under contract in either league remains the property of the the team they last played for in that league. If they jump to the other, they owe the time left on the contract they signed with in the first and must play for that amount if they return and pay the NHL or European team the difference between what they were paid by the other league and the amount they signed for in the meantime. If a player in the NHL is signed for $900,000 and plays in Europe for $1,500,00 he owes the NHL team $600,000 for every year gone if or when he decides to return and vice versa. I don't have a problem with players leaving but we can't have them jumping from one to the other depending on who's paying most and constantly ignoring the contracts they signed.
Scai (Posted 2008-07-11 19:37:21)
Didn't you, Mr. Campbell, tell us that the KHL wasn't going to be any competition for the NHL? It didn't even take a week to prove you wrong. Any league that can pay a player 4 million a year will be able to hurt the NHL's chances of getting the best players.
Commenters here are living prove of the racist prejudices Russians still have to face in the NHL. No wonder they'd rather play at home. Everybody would. If racists like Bob have their way the NHL will turn into that sorry bunch of muckers and grinders it once was.
Radulov's doing what every individual is expected to do in a capitalist world: he's maximizing his benefits. Anyone who calls Radulov a communist doesn't understand a single thing about the world in which he's living.
DyLahn Ormicia (Posted 2008-07-11 18:26:53)
you said it, what a jerk, just another Russian playing a big contract. next year the preds should dump him
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-11 17:13:20)
Sure, they can negotiate an extension, but they can't renegotiate his contract for the upcoming season. His agent knows that, and with the quotes Ken has from him above you get the feeling that if this is a negotiation ploy, his agent isn't exactly in on it.
Alix (Posted 2008-07-11 16:22:12)
Butch: Nashville certainly can negotiate an extension with Radulov at this point of his contract, since he only has one year left on it. That's an interesting theory to float, that the 'contract' with Ufa is a negotiating ploy in order to get more money out of the Predators, and there may be elements of truth to it. But the amount of tax-free dollars he's getting, which a cash-strapped Nashville organization would be unlikely to match at this stage of his career, and his stated to desire to play closer to home sound like they're more of a factor.
Will Head (Posted 2008-07-11 16:03:39)
Honor your contract you punk
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-11 15:06:49)
What would make this even more interesting is if Ufa offers to buy out the last year of Radulov's contract with Nashville, because then you really can draw pretty much exact parallels with what the Leafs are doing with Frogren. In fact, that's exactly what I would do if I were Ufa's management, offer Nashville the money to buy out this last year, then loudly trumpet it from the rooftops. Frogren said he wanted to play in the NHL this year and his team graciously allowed him to go for a nominal fee. Radulov's already said he would like to play in Russia. It would be pretty hypocritical of the NHL and the Predators to say he couldn't after spending all this time and money over the years getting guys like Frogren and Malkin and Zherdev out of their contracts with their club teams.
Phil (Posted 2008-07-11 15:01:00)
Greg,
Malkin left from Russia because you can give your team a 2-weeks notice if you have a good reason to be leaving. The team wasn't going to accept any reason, so Malkin left, faxed his 2 week notice from New York and then signed with Pittsburgh. He never played in Finland.
And in general,
Nobody but the Ufa team and its league are going to approve (of) this decision. If they do, almost every other Russian team will be making offers to every Russian player playing in North America. It will get ugly, and it's something the NHL, AHL, and IIHF would really, REALLY like to avoid. Besides, the IIHF has no agreement between the NHL/AHL and all of Europe as of the wiritng, either. Anyone want THEM in on this game too? Doubtful. This whole situation is ethically screwed up.
Greg (Posted 2008-07-11 13:58:06)
I agree with everyone, yes the is "contractual obligations", yes the new agreement is in place, yes Sweden and Finland have a more laisse relationship with the NHL. But will not sign a new agreement because they want a higher rightly so transfer fee.
If Radulov does not want to play in the NHL, thats his decision, not the fans. Your not the one that has to live thousands of miles from home, in a different language and culture. If he can get the same amount of money playing at home - good for him. Do I think he should staying in the NHL, YES. It is the best league but in the end it his choice.
Note: Frogen was not the first European to be "bought out" of his contract. It was not too long ago that Malkin had to "defect" out of his contract in Finland (I believe) to come to the NHL.
Also this could be a contract negotiation ploy :)
Etienne (Posted 2008-07-11 13:51:57)
Giv'er: you're partially wrong. Every european leagues backed out of their transfert agreements with the NHL last year. It's true that Finland and Sweden are more reasonable about their elite coming into the NHL, but they're pissed off about the NHL teams bringing 60-70 young prospects to the training camp and then sending 55 of them to the minors.
jono (Posted 2008-07-11 13:16:51)
would'nt they want to play in the best league in the world,just because u can't stickhandle around everyone u go crying home what a shame the kid has talent
butch (Posted 2008-07-11 13:15:03)
I smell negotiation tactic written all over this .
I'm not sure if nashville can give the guy an extension prior to his rookie deal expriring -if so , then I'd say this is all a ploy on someones part to cash in on the khl threat and thus speed up a preds offer to extend Radulov on a dollar figure they may not exactly be comfortable with committing to
Giv'er (Posted 2008-07-11 13:04:01)
Greg, Frogren wasn't poached because he hasnt been signed yet lol. Plus he bought his own contract out, which is perfectly legal. Its only Russia that has a major problem when it comes to their players coming to North America to play in the NHL, as the Finnish and Swedish leagues are considerably open to having their players develope into stars. The Russians claimed Filatov was breaching the agreement, but he hasnt been under contract for months.
Section325L (Posted 2008-07-11 13:00:51)
Why cant this crap happen on a monday? We get a nice story on Steve Sullivan's health improving and this just takes the wind right out of the sail. Hopefully this is a negotiating ploy by him and his agent. Poile can't make everyone happy I guess. Go Preds!
Scott (Posted 2008-07-11 12:38:57)
Someone should tell these players that the KHL is basically going to be the AHL with NHL money. There's nothing wrong with that, but, no matter what, it won't be the best league in the world. But hey, Rads, whatever floats your boat. One question though: If he wasn't going to play professionally in North America for the long term, why did he come over here to play major junior? Just wondering.
Adam (Posted 2008-07-11 12:31:59)
Yes but Greg that is the point of the new agreement...to prevent poaching by BOTH sides.
scotty87 (Posted 2008-07-11 12:31:13)
Greg: Have you ever heard of contractual obligations? Last time I checked, when you sign a notarized contract, you are legally obligated to fulfill it.
Gus (Posted 2008-07-11 12:27:19)
Another interesting side of this is what happens to Radulov's performance if he is in fact forced to play out his last season in Nashville.
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-11 12:17:16)
This should be interesting no matter what the IIHF and KHL choose to do. If they nullify Radulov's contract with Ufa you have to think the team isn't going to be too happy. Maybe Medvedev and the KHL went into this agreement with the NHL without the support of the clubs? Trouble already for the new league? If they don't nullify Radulov's contract, well, you have to think the agreement is suddenly not worth the paper it's written on and it's pretty much open season. No surprises here that the entry-level salary cap that sees Radulov and other young Russians making a lot less than they could at home is becoming an issue.
Greg (Posted 2008-07-11 12:00:55)
I really have no problem with this. The NHL has for years "poached" talent from the European leagues, even with players under contact i.e. Frogen. If Radulov wants to play in the KHL, I feel he has all rights to leave, even under contract. However the KHL team must we willing to pay the transfer fee ($200,000 in the past) to the Nashville Predators.
No issue - sad to see him go
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