Kontinental League decides to allow Radulov contract
Alex Radulov is one step closer to playing in Russia next season. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ken Campbell
2008-07-16 16:19:16
Despite the fact the NHL and the Kontinental League reached an agreement last week not to poach each other’s players under contract, the KHL has ruled it will uphold the three-year, $13 million contract Alexander Radulov of the Nashville Predators signed with Ufa Salavat.
That means as far as the KHL is concerned, Radulov will play in Russia next season. And that, sources say, will set up a showdown with the NHL that could throw the entire process into chaos and thwart the original agreement, which effectively would make it open season on players playing in both leagues.
A top executive in the KHL told THN.com that since the peace pact was agreed to July 10 and the Radulov signing with Ufa was agreed to July 5, Radulov’s signing does not come under the purview of the agreement. Radulov signed the deal despite the fact he has a year remaining on his entry-level deal with the Predators.
“The NHL is trying to put things in a retrospective way saying that the (Radulov) transfer, which was on the fifth of July, constitutes the moment when we should respect each other’s rights,” said Ilya Kochevrin, a vice-president and the director of marketing for the KHL. “But this issue was dealt with in Zurich on the 10th. If you want to look at things retrospectively, we should prorate all the way to the time when (Alex) Ovechkin and (Evgeni) Malkin were taken out of the Russian clubs.”
The KHL said in a news release it met Wednesday and intends to honor the agreement retroactive to July 10, but expects to have a document that can be signed by Aug. 1. That means no players now or in the future who are under contract to NHL clubs will be poached by the KHL, but it will allow Radulov to play in Ufa next season.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the KHL is bound by the agreement and intends to enforce the Radulov contract with the Predators.
“While we are pleased with the announcement that the KHL has voted to approve the accord we all talked about and agreed to last week, that does not lessen the obligation they continue to have – both legally and morally based on traditional principles of contract law and on representations made to us on at least two prior occasions – to respect valid and binding contractual obligations in our league,” Daly said in an email. “We expect that Mr. Radulov will not be given the option to play in the KHL this year and that he will be returned to the team that has rightfully and legally contracted for his services – the Nashville Predators.”
Several NHL sources confirmed the league has known for some time that the KHL would ratify the Radulov contract and the announcement Wednesday was meant to lead the world to believe it is acting honorably. They also said if the KHL doesn’t respect the Radulov contract with Nashville there will not be an agreement of any kind. Sources also said the league still sees this issue as far from being over.
The NHL is also expecting the IIHF to step in and force the KHL to nullify Radulov’s contract. IIHF president Rene Fasel could not be reached for comment, but the IIHF has already stated that if a player signs in Russia while under contract to an NHL team, he will be “red flagged,” meaning he will not be eligible to play for his country in international competitions and his team will be barred from playing in the IIHF-run Champions League, which can be a financial windfall for teams that qualify.
Kochevrin said he is expecting to have a conference call with Daly and IIHF president Rene Fasel Thursday to further discuss the agreement, but said the KHL’s stance on the Radulov contract will remain firm.
“So far we don’t have any written agreement,” Kochevrin said. “Everything verbal is fine, but you have to understand that verbal agreements can be twisted either way.”
Clouding the issue is the situation with Nikita Filatov, who was drafted sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Filatov’s camp has maintained he has no contractual ties to his former Central Army team and is free to play in North America. Red Army disagrees and is demanding compensation from the Blue Jackets.
Some say the KHL is holding firm on Radulov as a retaliatory strike over the Filatov situation.
“What we’re saying is that we’re putting a moratorium on signing (players under contract) as a gesture of goodwill to demonstrate we’re willing to find a solution between the KHL and the NHL,” Kochevrin said. “There was a one-way street when Russian players were moving to North America and clubs feel frustrated because so much has been invested in those players and nothing was given in exchange. The NHL has not been respecting our contracts for years, or even decades, and we need to have some control with respect to contracts."
jeff (Posted 2008-07-20 20:56:36)
Boris you sound like a real dirt bag. I think your the one that needs to grow up.
Chris (Posted 2008-07-20 16:24:02)
Yeah, I sure have egg on my face while the mindless, incoherent babble continues without one reasonable or sensible thought in your whole paragraph. You say I should look up communist in the dictionary and I would see that it doesn't mean people from Russia. Well I think you're the one who needs to grow up here Captain Obvious. If you'd crawl out from under the rock from you've obviously been living, you would know that Russians are just one of several countries known for being communists. I have no resentment toward people making more money than me, it's just very irritating when they make that much money and are still whining that it's not enough. I mean come on, how could someone possibly live on a lifetime earning of tens of millions of dollars?
Boris (Posted 2008-07-19 18:09:21)
Hi Chris, some of us have an education and are capable of coupling reason and thought to opinion without recourse to a dictionary, or petulant invective directed at others just because they can actually put words together into sentences. Grow up. Here's a word for you: irony. In one pity paragraph you attempt to insult me by calling me a "communist" (you should, btw, look that one up in YOUR dictionary, it's pretty clear that you think it means someone from Russia and it doesn't...) while at the same time floating some pathetic "up with with common man" sentiment about hockey fans, their rights, and a general resentment towards people who are making more money than you. You are a very confused person. There, do YOU feel ridiculous too now?
Chris (Posted 2008-07-19 10:18:37)
Yeah, Boris sure made everyone else look ridiculous. I can tell he has just scoured the dictionary in search of big, important sounding words in a feeble attempt to make himself sound superior to everyone else. Without hockey fans these overpaid crybabies wouldn't be making the gobs of money that they are so the fans should be able to say whatever they want without having to listen to ignorant babble from some vodka swilling communist such as yourself.
Joe W (Posted 2008-07-18 22:56:39)
Hold the Phone a Second..................Nashville Still has a team?
Boris (Posted 2008-07-18 22:20:29)
According to the AP today (via ESPN's website), the IIHF has "suspended" the contracts of Radulov and five other Russian players pending their own investigation. This is particularly interesting since it's hard to see what legal standing the IIHF has in any of this. Described by the AP article as "hockey's governing body" in reality they control who can play in the Olympics and other tournaments like the Worlds etc. They are certainly not an international tribunal with any legal standing where specific contracts are concerned. The idea of them "reviewing" anything is pretty funny when you think about it. Sort of like the IOC telling the Green Bay Packers whether they have to release Brett Favre. It's kind of funny but not really, mostly it's just sad. Bettman and the Preds should take their lawyers to Russia to press their "case" where I'm sure that they will be taken as seriously as the US Appelate court took the Russian club from whom the Pens/NHL poached Malkin. I'm interested in this not for it's outcome (that's a no-brainer, unless the KHL decides to throw the NHL a bone in some sort of negotiation in which some other contracts are nullified where the KHL gets back some "stolen" players or something else they want, there's not a damned thing the NHL or IIHF can do about it), no, I'm mostly interested to see what final shred of dignity the Bettman and Daly are willing to expend in hopes that nobody is really keeping score.
John H. (Posted 2008-07-18 10:58:16)
It's obvious Radulov's only motivation is money. Why doesn't he just stay in Nashville for a year, become an RFA and have some turkey like Brian Lawton or Cliff Fletcher offer him 10 years and $100 million guaranteed? Boris and Sergei, good, well-thought-out points. What, are you guys Ritch Winter using Russian names? By the way, "Russia," you want Afinogenov? Please, by all means take him. Maybe you could give the Sabres a bag of pucks in exchange so Darcy Regier can cut his losses.
Beer is good (Posted 2008-07-18 09:44:01)
"When its' warm...it tastes crappy...a cold beer will make me happy" Go Sharks go with the same M O as always......FYI...As Glenn Danzig would say "I don't mind the pain"......As for Russia signing Radulov and the NHL crying about it......It sucks when someone beats you at your own game....The NHL has been poaching Euros for decades
Fredrik Vilborg (Posted 2008-07-18 07:03:01)
Go Russia Go! Swedish club Frölunda Indians has signed Johan Holmqvist, Joe DiPenta and Riku Hahl. We also got Ari Ahonen, Lars Eller and Tomi Kallio. Can we please join the KHL? :P
Russia (Posted 2008-07-18 04:00:45)
Greetings pederasts American!!!!!! Well shivers your spot???? Also it is ugly creatures not the end!!!!!! We have begun with Radulova and Jagr. And we shall finish YOUR mum - Ovi, Kovi, Afinogenov, and your pederast Crosbyyyyyy!!!!!! In couple of years you will suck away at KHL
Terry (Posted 2008-07-18 03:33:19)
GO Alex, go. Everything you do is ugly for the NHL. BYE
Tiffany (Posted 2008-07-17 22:34:14)
Radalov's contracts have nothing to go with North American vs. Russians. This is an individual that signed 2 contracts and is a reflection of his poor character.
I agree with Matt earlier who said, players that skips out on a NHL contract with any team should be banned from the league for life period!
It is nice with have an agreement with the KHL as of July 10th, but I say to All 30 teams take note: caveat emptor.
Sergei (Posted 2008-07-17 19:11:35)
Boris made everybody else look ridiculous here. The NHL is a fine league playing the finest sport (in my opinion), but the ethnocentric arrogance that some fans are showing here makes me glad to see them getting taken down a peg. If an agreement was reached on the 10th, then that is when is should commence. Pretty open and shut.
Go sharks go! (Posted 2008-07-17 16:36:30)
to F21c11 25O21 YoM. It is always very interesting to read the comments from morons. From what you've been saying it seems you barely have any clue what's going on with Filatov's contract back in Russia. And BTW the Earth is not flat. Surprize, erh? There are a lot of good teams besides the NHL ones. Yes, in Europe and especially in Russia. And millions of fans who would be really happy to get him back and watch him playing. Ooops, he is Russian after all! And he is adult boy, who makes the decisions like where to play by himself, isn't he? Question is could you repeat you last words in front of Radulov or you are so brave due to the invention of the internet and distant connections?
Boris (Posted 2008-07-17 16:32:00)
The whole idea of banning anybody from anything is so small, petty and antithetical to any and everything having to do with sportsmanship that it is truly beneath contempt. I'm so sick and tired of hearing braggadocio proclamations of "passion" and "love of the game" from so-called fans who, in reality, love mostly their own petty and small-minded set of bigoted conceits. Players should turn down better paycheck because why exactly? That would make them more "loyal" to hockey and it's so-called "true fans"? It's absurd. I would love to know the accurate sequence of events (behind the scenes) that led to planning of the KHL and I would be especially curious how much analysis of the weakening position of the "NEW NHL" went into that planning and the timing of forming this league. I'm imagining that somebody who did their due diligence (as potential investors) saw alot of opportunities starting to emerge that shouldn't have if people like Bettman and Daly were actually competent at running the NHL.
F21c11 25O21 YoM. (Posted 2008-07-17 15:59:22)
Filatov's contract in Russia is still valid, so the KHL says, he requested his release from contractual obligations after serving his team for three years, although the request was made and his 3 year term was served the Russians claim that they still own "Kunta Kinte" Filatov. The Russians have played these games with all their top young talent. I can't fault them and if Radulov wants to play home, close to mommy, I can only say "you go girl"
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-17 15:14:58)
Just to add to Boris's point, do any of you guys saying Radulov should be banned from the NHL for life think for a second that the NHL and the Nashville Predators would stick to such a ban if Radulov decided to come back to the NHL? They could talk big and claim they'll ban guys like Radulov, but the moment he decides he wants to come back to the NHL when his Russian contract expires or, god forbid, if he decides not to fulfill the whole three years of his KHL deal, the Predators would be screaming for a ban to be lifted and the NHL would immediately do it. Any such ban wouldn't even be worth the paper it was written on. If the NHL wanted to do the best, smartest long-term thing for the league with what could very well be an ongoing concern here, they'd ask that Radulov's new Russian team compensate the Predators in proportion to his contract and be done with it. That's the only standard that should be set here for teams in both leagues to abide by. Want to sign Radulov? Fine, give us a third of the $1 million left on his deal, or whatever, and his NHL rights stay with the Predators. Ovechkin signs with a Russian team before his contract's out? Fine, compensate us for the $120 million left on his deal. That'll be $40 million, please, plus whatever you're going to pay him. To expect anything else would be extremely hypocritical of the NHL.
Chuck Harris (Posted 2008-07-17 14:41:07)
If his contract was signed before the agreement then its a binding agreement.But I also think radulov is a good player but this is NOT a quality you see in a hockey player greed we all see the money but he's not a superstar player yet i think he would have got almost the same amount from the predators but just blowout the final year of your contract now you willn't be able to play in the olympics,world championship or any iihf tournament now and when your contract is up then what no one in their right mind is going to try to sign you cause of all the bs involved be happy now but cry later
Boris (Posted 2008-07-17 14:34:29)
I'm fascinated by the influx of opinion from the fine legal minds that have suddenly assembled here. NHL contracts bind players within the NHL, that's all. You may have missed the part of contract law where indentured servitude was abolished, geniuses. (That goes for you too, Bill Daly). Further, neither NHL players or GMs seem to view their own contracts within the NHL as especially sacrosanct (thank you Eric Lindros, Alexi Yashin, Toronto Mapleleafs etc). There is, at present, no "agreement" between the NHL and the KHL much less a binding contract that was in place on July 5th. This isn't even a question, never mind the disgusting hypocrisy of Daly's posturing given the NHL's long history of poaching Russian players who were under contract. Not only did the NHL not recognize and honor those contracts, they didn't even compensate the clubs whom they stole the players from. Finally, along with the brilliant legal analysis I keep reading here I find that some of the world's sharpest economists are present also. Apparently since the NHL can't afford to pay these contracts then nobody can? You're all so sure the KHL is doomed before it starts and yet, oddly, I don't think any of you really know what the hell you're talking about. These are successful business people behind this league - they seem to have demonstrated already that they understand economics and how to make money...gee, the NHL, not so much. All you KHL-bashers need to wake up, this is probably the best thing that has happened to the NHL since the expansion of '67. (Bettmann still looks like the worst to me).
Todd (Posted 2008-07-17 13:56:00)
I don't think that Radulov should have to honor his contract. If he wants to play in the NHL, he should have to play with Nashville at the rate of his last entry level contract. Kind of like they did with Yashin.
If he wants to play in Europe in the meantime, so be it. I can't see this Russian League staying afloat with all the stupid contracts that they are giving out. When the cash runs dry, the NHL will reap the rewards
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-17 13:54:31)
Tom in FL wins best comment. Well done, sir, well done.
Stanley Cup (Posted 2008-07-17 13:31:09)
Rob M,
I agree with your thought to have a competition between the NHL and European entities. And as I stated in my previous post, the NHL has poached Europeans for decades. In the current day however, there is "almost" an agreement to prevent this from happening. As we know, it is not yet complete, but will be very soon...perhaps.
I don't think that breaking contracts is a good thing. Technically it is illegal, regardless of who you are or what you do for a living.
Without "rule of law", agreements, etc... the hockey world will continue to have the chaos that we have always had in these matters. If our view of fair international competition is to be a possibility, then all parties must agree to abide by the governing "agreement(s)" don't you think? I feel that any player from any league - KHL or NHL etc. should be banned for life from playing in the league that they "stiffed". That would make players stop this type of activity.
Fred Haefner (Posted 2008-07-17 12:58:55)
Compensation for Filitov
They already have it Svitov still owes us a year.
Let's call it even
Rob M (Posted 2008-07-17 12:37:35)
Stanley Cup, I agree that K.D. is insane, that is uncalled for bigotry. But don't think that players should be banned for breaking contracts with the NHL. Ovechkin and Malkin both broke their Russian contracts to play in the NHL and that was unfair to the Russian clubs. It seems like a terrible thing to do (breaking contracts that you agree too I mean) but these a professional athletes not every day "joe blows". I think that Russian clubs should be able to poach NHL players because the NHL did it to them. Create some competition for the NHL, I would love to see some of these Russian games played on Canadian TV. Maybe even do a Stanley Cup champion vs. Russian Champion, 7 game exhibition. This has many possibilities of the NHL doesn't treat this like they did the WHA.
Tom in FL (Posted 2008-07-17 12:33:25)
It is very clear what will happen. As always, the Russians will retreat. The NHL will attack. Winter will set in and the NHL will die agonizingly in the snow. This has all the makings of a Hemingway novel.
I had four shots of vodka and three beers. My friends and I then went to the tavern near Red Square and shared three bottles of wine. Later we went searching for Radulov near the farm house. It was bitter cold and the old men all wore parkas and giant hats. Night fell and the radiator in the car froze. At one point we thought we saw Radulov in the distance. My friends died of the cold that night, alone in a gutter on the side of the road. I left the frozen corpse of the commissioner behind and trudged on. Hopefully Radulov would be just over the next hill.
Stanley Cup (Posted 2008-07-17 11:32:45)
K.D. -- just a quick question.. Who is the Prime Minister of the "country" of North America?
I agree that many Euro teams have had this happen to them. Why should they feel that they couldn't do the same thing back to the NHL?
I also agree with Matt... Radulov and anyone else that breaks an NHL contract should be banned for life from the NHL.
Paul (Posted 2008-07-17 11:10:44)
The biggest factor, I feel, is youth. What the NHL has been doing to young Europeans is bad. The pressure to bring these kids over here ASAP is hurting a lot of them in many ways. In Radulov's case, he was a young teen and suddenly, probably in hopes of making a bigger name to make more money, he is playing in Quebec. New city, new country, new culture. Only a few years later he is in the heartland of the U.S. Same deal again. That can not be good, mentally, for a guy that age. Trying to make it where they do not speak your language or where you have few family and friends. This is often overlooked because of players like Ovechkin, etc., who more openly embrace the change. But for every guy like him, there are ten who struggle to adapt. I feel if the KHL can keep young Russians/Euros over there a bit longer and let them mature that is a good thing. If they still want to come to N.A. then let them. I agree with the majority sentiment that the NHL is reaping what it sowed. And I agree that some new competition oversees would be great.
Rob M (Posted 2008-07-17 10:51:35)
It's really ignorant to ignore the fact that the NHL has been doing this not only to Russian clubs for years, but to all European clubs. The NHL is just mad because a new league is emerging that has the potential to take it on head to head. It was the same non sense when the WHA was around. Just wait until some of the Russian teams start to get better than the NHL teams then the real whining will start. I was there when some WHA teams had better talent rosters then the NHL teams. If you think that Bettman looks like a rat now wait until you see him chewing on the dry wall because of nervousness when this Russian Super League takes off.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-07-17 10:27:26)
C_Felix, the same way European players sign with an NHL team when they are still under contract with their old team - They just do. No country really has to force someone to honor a contract in another country. Most of the time they do, but it's just a courtesy. Sure, there are international agreements, but a country can opt out of it any time they want to. It's not like the U.S. or Canada will send in the senior diplomats to solve this, or threaten war. The NHL is kind of getting back what they've given on this one. Regarding Malkin, Russia did have a loophole in their labor law that allowed him to opt out of that contract (which, by all accounts, he was coerced into-Organized Crime running the KHL and all that). The loophole has been closed. I don't remember Ovechkin having a contract he was under. For me, if Radulov wants to leave, it sucks, because he's on my fantasy roster.
Bob Allisat (Posted 2008-07-17 10:22:49)
The KHL and NHL had no agreement when Radulov signed. Even now it's verbal and unclear so basically anything goes, simple as that. Now if Radulov is nice he can pay the Nashville Predators ownership group to go away. If not the finger is an appropriate gesture - ditto for the NHL.
C_Felix (Posted 2008-07-17 09:34:40)
I'm just curious how Radulov signs a contract with the KHL when his contractually obligated to the NHL and the Preds.
Greg McDonald (Posted 2008-07-17 09:32:45)
Wow, good to see K.D. doesn't have a problem with Non North American Players.
Why can't anyone see that the NHL has been doing this to European Leagues for years! Its typical NIMBY thinking (Not In My Back Yard) thinking. Its okay for us Canadian/Americans to treat anyone the way we like but when someone wants to play in their home country for a respectable salary we jump all over them. Remember Canadians - the majority of our players used to want to play in the US to make the big bucks! It has only been in the last 5 years (even more with the rising in $Canadian) that we could keep these "Good Canadian Boys".
Little Zuri (Posted 2008-07-17 07:55:32)
Regarding Flyersfan52 whgo said: So don't draft Russians until the late rounds unless they've already proven they want to play here by coming over to play in the CHL. Radulov played for the Quebec Remparts - so much for that theory.
Sure the NHL is getting a taste of their own medicine vis a vis having players under contract sniped by another league. But Radulov is not the first Russian to ignore the terms of his contract and if and when he decides he wants back in the NHL then he will owe the Preds that year at the salary he was to be paid for it originally.
Remember Yashin and his holdouts and the last one where he sat out a season - he did the Sens that lost season when he finally returned and at the salary that he had been dissatisfied with. The Sens were adamant that if he ever ewaned to play in the NHL again then he owed them that year first.
bob barker (Posted 2008-07-17 02:26:15)
i think that it is rediculous that there are people sitting on a high horse about this whole situation. the nhl is getting just deserts. make a cba where young talent gets shafted with minimal salaries. and then look confused when they take a better salary somewhere else? duh!! and as far as contracts and obligations the nhl was smiling with ovechkin and malkin and a horde of others who came to the nhl. whether it is a better league remains to be seen when the khl gets going. i wonder what will happen if it is a smashing success? the europeans and russians will stay close to home and make the cake we were giving them. the whole boys club mentality really burns me up when it comes to the nhl. and im happy for ray emery. he had a shaft of a year in ottawa and they cant make him pay with a 90 percent pay cut. all i really wanna say is go khl!! and maybe we can go international with hockey like soccer and intermix leagues and see what clubs and what national coches are actually better.
Eldrick (Posted 2008-07-17 01:54:29)
The next agreement the Russians cling to will be its first in history!
BruinsFan (Posted 2008-07-17 00:15:59)
Ok let the kid go play in Russia, when he comes back he should be property of Nashville/KC. Nashville should be a little relieved they won't have to spend so much money on resigning him next year. The KHL is a good idea for the Russians and don't be surprised if there is a world cup game some time in the next ten years but i do doubt it would happen because if a NHL team losses then it will discredit that we are the best league. Let him go but that is it, he is the last one under contract.
wings (Posted 2008-07-16 22:07:39)
Its the USA why don't they just sue him for breach of cntract??
Isaac (Posted 2008-07-16 20:33:35)
Simply put the NHL is being hypocritical. What's good for us isn't good for you. Go KHL Go!
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-16 20:26:21)
So don't draft Russians until the late rounds unless they've already proven they want to play here by coming over to play in the CHL. Offer them the amount late drafted players get on entry level contracts. If they decide to play in Russia as a result, when that league folds they still owe the drafting team the 3 years at whatever they were originally offered. I understand getting while the getting is good but I disagree with league jumping depending on your market value. If you sign a contract it is binding on both entities. Hear that Keith Tkachuk?
Kaspar (Posted 2008-07-16 20:24:47)
I love these Euro-phobes who say "The Russians have always been liars" meanwhile the owners of NHL clubs are forming a single file line into federal courts!! wait till the next lockout when they all start crying about being broke again...more lies!! Or when they expand into Kcity and call it " a viable hockey market" ...I wouldn't be suprised if the NHL let this KHL crisis linger and used it as a reason to be broke for the next lockoit
this sucks (Posted 2008-07-16 20:00:38)
i hope radulov will stay in the nhl...
maha (Posted 2008-07-16 19:58:54)
Radulov votes with his feet ! Boots del Bagio votes with lies. Who is the bad guy ? Revenue sharing is when 30 partners get a cut of a profit. When a team looses and will continue to loose 100 million or more per year, it's called corporate welfare. Scrap that team and stop pouring money down the drain. Nashville is scamming the NHL hard !
John (Posted 2008-07-16 19:02:55)
Unless you're a Red Wing....
Johnny Boy (Posted 2008-07-16 19:02:17)
I hope Nashville learns from this debacle and uses their next first round pick to draft a player with some character and loyalty to the organization. I like Radulov as a player, but as a person there are some glaring character flaws that make him, despite his talent level, a serious liability to any team that he may play for in the future.
Jason (Posted 2008-07-16 18:26:39)
Who cares? I mean yea its a contract but so was Malkin's when Russia wanted to keep him but if the player would rather play at home let him. No matter how much money is involved the player doesn't have to take the larger contract, if he wants to leave and play in the league he wants? Let him.
So many times it seems that the largest contract wins but just because a player is offered a million more somewhere does not mean thats automatically where the player has to go, I feel that too many players main objective is to line their pockets as much as possible and we, as fans, have accepted it by blaming our teams for not matching the offers. What happened to a player simply saying, "No thanks" just because the league minimum is way more than any national average income.
Let the players choose where they want to play but fans need to wake up to the bigger problem of the most money almost always getting the best player
John Rice (Posted 2008-07-16 18:04:04)
I agree with the Russians. The Radulov deal was made before the transfer agreement, he shouldn't be banned by the IIHF. It is also stupid to suggest the NHL should ban defecting players for life. If he comes back to the NHL he should be property of Nashville and must fullfill his entry level contract. Thats the risk you take with you draft Russians without a longterm transfer agreement, the NHL clubs themselves are at fault. Besides with the KHL handing out those kind of contracts to those kind of players they'll probably go bankrupt in no time.
David (Posted 2008-07-16 18:02:23)
Let him go to Russia, and simply ban him from the NHL forever. The KHL will collapse on itself within a few years anyway and he'll have to go play in some other country where organized crime isn't funding huge contracts to unworthy players.
Mathew (Posted 2008-07-16 17:59:37)
Good for the KHL. Russia has been robbed of much of it's hockey heritage by fancy lawyers from New York. Malkin was under contract in Russia before joining the Pens and that didn't matter at all. So the NHL and the KHL came to an agreement but nothing has been written or ratified. If the NHL was serious about forging an agreement, why delay the paperwork? Create a loophole that the NHL has exploited in the past. What goes around , comes around. I doubt the KHL would use such a tactic if it hadn't been taught to them many times. It would be some change in attitude if the NHL respected nations that have produced great players. Bring back the Jets !!
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-16 17:33:53)
Kochevrin's got a point. The NHL never put much emphasis on respecting player contracts in Europe or Russia when a team decided they wanted a player and that player wanted to come. They didn't before, during, or after the transfer agreement expired. I can't really muster up much sympathy for them when the same thing happens in reverse with the KHL. And if the league really does ask the IIHF to take action against the KHL and Radulov's new team, everyone will pretty quickly learn just how toothless and impotent the IIHF has become. In my mind they all made the situation they're in, especially the NHL, and there's nothing wrong with a little real competition for players. It's all pretty entertaining, actually.
Cuban Missle Crisis (Posted 2008-07-16 17:27:39)
Less we forget, Russians are dishonest, always have been and always will be. The only thing that has changed between now and then, is that their borders are open, unless you are a young hockey player. That is a good step for the KHL to take, here they want to be a WORLD CLASS league and yet the same old Russian tatics are being played.
John Sevier (Posted 2008-07-16 17:05:01)
So are NHL teams combing the Russian rosters as we speak? Is there another Ovechkin over there?
matt (Posted 2008-07-16 16:56:45)
any player that leaves while still under contract to the NHL should be banned from the league for life.
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Which team will win the Atlantic Division?
"There's no greater honor, no greater feeling than standing on that blueline with your teammates representing this country. I'll remember this the rest of my life."
- Canada's John Tavares after winning the country's fifth straight World Junior Championship gold medal.
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