KHL makes concessions, but NHL not impressed
Alex Radulov signed a deal to play in Russia this season, despite being under contract with the Predators. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ken Campbell
2008-09-06 14:22:24
Kontenintal Hockey League president Alexander Medvedev has extended an “open hand” to the NHL, but judging by its reaction to the latest development in the Alexander Radulov affair, Medvedev shouldn’t be surprised if that hand comes back with bite marks in it.
The NHL was decidedly unimpressed with the result of a meeting Saturday involving the KHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation that resulted in the KHL dropping its opposition to the NHL signings of Russian players Nikita Filatov and Viktor Tikhonov and conceding to put the Radulov matter before the courts or an arbitrator.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in the Radulov case, the IIHF, “lacked the courage and conviction to do what’s right,” by not ordering Radulov to fulfill the final year of his contract with the Nashville Predators. Despite still being under contract to the Predators, Radulov signed a three-year deal worth $13 million with Salavat Ufa of the KHL and has already appeared in several games.
“The facts couldn't be more clear,” Daly said in an email to thn.com. “But instead of revealing what (the IIHF’s) investigation actually found – which is that Radulov is under contract to Nashville and should be playing there this season - they pulled the chute and took the easy way out. Very, very disappointing. Its seems that the KHL is making decisions for the IIHF these days.”
Daly is undoubtedly alluding to the fact that Medvedev was recently elected to the executive board of the IIHF in addition to his role as KHL president.
And even though Medvedev said in an interview with thn.com that the KHL would respect the ruling of an independent arbitrator in the Radulov case, Daly said he has no reason to believe that’s the case.
“We're happy to submit the Radulov matter to binding arbitration, but I sincerely doubt we would ever get the agreement of the KHL or Ufa to do so,” Daly said. “They have no case to present, and no justification whatsoever for their lawless actions.”
So much for the thawing of relations between the KHL and NHL, which seemed to be the objective when the KHL met with the IIHF in Zurich on Saturday. The NHL refused to participate in the meeting, but both the KHL and IIHF emerged from the meeting hopeful it would result in better relations between the Russian League and the NHL.
“We have gone with an open hand to the NHL,” Medvedev told thn.com in a telephone interview Saturday. “We are hoping to get a positive reaction from the NHL.”
After the meeting, that included Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson, the KHL withdrew its disputes to the transfers of five players, including Filatov and Tikhonov, both of whom had been drafted in the first round in June and were expected to play in North America this season.
Filatov was taken sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tikhonov went 28th overall to the Phoenix Coyotes. Both have signed contracts with their teams, but the KHL claimed both players were still under contract to their Russian teams in the KHL and disputed both deals.
The KHL also dropped its opposition to the transfers of Tomas Mojzis (who signed with the Minnesota Wild), Jason Krog (Vancouver Canucks) and Fedor Fedorov (New Jersey Devils).
The decision by the KHL appears to be a stunning reversal in attitude for the Russian league, which until Saturday had taken a hard-line stance with the NHL.
“I must admit I was surprised at the concessions the KHL made, but at some time you have to cut bait and move on,” said one insider familiar with both sides.
As a result, Radulov will no longer be suspended from IIHF competition, which means he will be able to participate in the lucrative, IIHF-sponsored Champions League in Europe until his case is decided.
“We would like to create an environment where mutual respect of contracts is more than just a nice slogan,” Medvedev said. “I believe every objective analyst or supporter of hockey, regardless of nationality or location, should appreciate that we are doing everything possible to have a civilized, transparent and legally solid method of player transfers between the KHL and the NHL. Our friends will never forgive (the KHL and NHL) if we create an environment and all of hockey will suffer. We know people are watching us and waiting for a decision.”
The KHL, however, continues to dispute the NHL contracts signed by Andrei Lohtionev and Vyacheslav Voinov of the Los Angeles Kings and Andrei Mayorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
From an NHL perspective, this is certainly positive news. The league maintained all along that both Filatov and Tikhonov, both of whom stand a good chance of making their teams, were free of contractual obligations in Russia.
Now the key to resolving the Radulov dispute will depend on whether or not, despite the rhetoric, the two sides can actually agree on binding arbitration.
Whether or not this leads to a possible transfer agreement between the NHL and the European federations, including the KHL, remains to be seen.
“I really hope it happens,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev, meanwhile, said the KHL is encouraged by its first couple of weeks of operation.
“It’s not only my opinion, but that of international experts, that there has been a positive trend in the level of hockey,” Medvedev said. “It is much higher than it was before. The TV audiences are much bigger and I think the public appreciates it.”
Rihards (Posted 2008-09-29 12:34:26)
Soon most of the Eastern Europian players will come to KHL..., better sallary.
Blake (Posted 2008-09-10 11:46:55)
"2 years ago Malkin was under a contract in Russia and Penguins brought him to the NHL in very sneaky way"
Although it may have been a bit "sneaky", he was no longer under contract when he signed with the Penguins. If there would have been an out in Radulov's contract like there was Malkin's the NHL wouldn't have a leg to stand on right now.
Cole (Posted 2008-09-09 01:21:32)
Let them have Radulov. He's getting paid $4.3 mil a season. If they want to pay a guy like that 4.3, then they will have to offer a guy like Gaborik something like 20 mil a season. The KHL can't afford to give out those types of contracts for long.
Who would want to play in Russia though? Their government is seemingly corrupt (atleast compared to our governments, but then again all governments are corrupt). Apparently Russia has a lot of Mafia involvement in the very high ranks of politics (who's to say we dont though?). Some players have reportedly still not received all the money owed to them during the lockout season.
The lifestyle will also be a lot different. The NHL teams charter airplanes and give first class treatment to the players. Even if the Russian teams do go all out on expenses to keep the players happy, they still can't beat the Americans.
Also, where is this organization getting all of its money? Private investors? Government help? Sponsors? Regardless, the KHL will not have an easy time paying guys like Radulov 4.3 a season and staying afloat (If they even pay them fully).
The KHL is going to take some time to get theirselves settled in and comfy. I'm sure it will take quite some time to start making money. IMO it's up to the NHL on whether or not the KHL stays afloat, it's about how they handle it.
P.s. Boris you're a douche
mille feuilles (Posted 2008-09-09 00:12:00)
The days of sport team operators like Calvin Griffith in baseball whose sole business was baseball, are gone.
There is now a LOT of money involved there. Individuals and owners that own major sport franchises don't always want to turn a profit with them.
Some do but some don't care. The teams may even serve as money laundering schemes. And this may happen both in Noth America and Europe. This being said, the money that the fans spend at the arena is trivial now compared with TV revenues and by-product sales.
As Boris mentionned, the KHL may or may not have very strong political backing in Russia. If it does, the NHL may become once again a strictly North American affair.
I also remember seeing a week ago Hakan Loob the former NHL star being quoted assaying that a north European league along the KHL line was being discussed.
So the NHL better get itself moving if it does not want to get into a bidding war with 2 leagues. Given it's "bright" leadership....I expect the NHL to lose this one if they don't change courses.
One final question: If the Radulov case goes to court, where will the case be heard? Nashville or Omsk? I bet that the outcome would be different depending on the venue. Not that I really trust either.
Montreal Habs (Posted 2008-09-08 16:34:44)
Right now we can't blame anyone. NHL is trying to get the best players so is KHL. There is no rule, no law. Yes we can make baseless accusations and we can tell everyone how NHL is better than KHL etc. But it will remean an opinion. It's the market that will decide where star players will play. As it is now, hockey is expected to generate way more money in Russia than the US. It will be logical to see players gettin payed better over there, particulary russian and european players. Players might be able to chane teams and continents every year, who knows. It's the affect of the globalisation and the fact that there is no agreement between NHL and KHL. Personaly, i have no problem with this. I will still cheer for my habs whatsoever and if i want to see Radolov i will check him out online.
Canadien de Montreal (Posted 2008-09-08 16:10:01)
chek it out. you will be surprised.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-09-08 13:41:52)
Russia is a rich country? That's news to me. Sure there are rich people but to say it's a rich country is a stretch. I'm talking about the average Russian, not the elite upper classes.
Canadien de Montreal (Posted 2008-09-08 13:15:35)
Hi everyone, as i am not Russian or American from Nashville, i think i can bring a very impartial point of view. So Radulov went back to Russia and didn’t finish his last year as it was mentioned in his contract. 2 years ago Malkin was under a contract in Russia and Penguins brought him to the NHL in very sneaky way. Back then i told all my friends that NHL should not do this, because what goes around comes around. However, i think NHL is the best league for us as the KHL is the best league for Russians. I don’t understand why everybody cry of it, at the end of the day Hockey will improve and players will benefit from this, like Jagr and other guys who decided to play in Russia. Perhaps, we should expect more Russian and even Americans and Canadians to move to Russia. Russia is rich country and they love hockey, its totally normal that they want good players in their league.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-09-08 11:26:59)
Boris, I don't need to watch a midget house league game to know it isn't going to be as good of hockey as a junior rep game. I know a little about the game so I can make the assumption. Do's that make me a dumb ass?And your constant moaning about bigotry,xenophobia would make you the whiny baby.It's simply shocky.Is that a word describing the game in the KHL?
Shawn (Posted 2008-09-08 07:05:24)
One could also argue that the only reason Europeans and Russians come all the way over here is simply for the paycheck (and Wendys). Sure, KHL is inferior and the NHL is the best competition on earth... but the development of the KHL is something the NHL should support. (and vice versa to the KHL).
Linda Leslie (Posted 2008-09-07 23:14:19)
What happened to the Russian Penguins? Do they still play? It was a Russian team that played the 1993-94 against the 13 IHL teams. One of the owners of the team was Howard Baldwin.
Boris (Posted 2008-09-07 21:17:48)
Ok, Eldrick, subsitute the word "xenophobe" or even "hypocrite" instead every other time. The point is that since the NHL has been been pilfering players for years and nobody in North America (or at least on this blog) seems to mind that, then the only difference now is that the tables are reversed. Whiny babies. I have no respect for self-serving hypocrites who are inconsistent on their principals. It's simply shocky. Yes, the KHL is second rate...I keep hearing that, oddly I keep hearing it from people who I'm certain have never seen a game in that league. So, at this point we could replace "biggot" with dumb-a$$, really, it's the same thing.
eldrick (Posted 2008-09-07 18:57:28)
Hey Boris, you kill any potential of a reasonable view by pulling the word "bigot" out of your a$$ each & every point.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-09-07 14:51:45)
Boris, I hope you enjoy watching 2nd. rate hockey. I'll take a less talented guy in the NHL who is desperate to be in the best league on earth any day over a washed up has been or a Russian kid who is only after the biggest paycheck available.There's no way this league poses any kind of meaningful threat to the NHL.Actually with guys like Yashin,Emery,and Simon over there it is helping clear out the dead weight.Have fun watching Yashin and Jagr play for a paycheck and nothing else.
Shawn (Posted 2008-09-07 14:27:59)
it would seem to me that after years of pilfering the russian leagues for players and never respecting russian "contracts"; the NHL has finally gotten a piece of its own pie. Radulov decided to go back to Russia and not respect his NHL contract. Though I'm sure this statement loses a lot of its truthfulness once you look into the details of what a Russian "contract" actually is.. (didn't someone say they claim rights to their players forever?)
whatsthatsmell (Posted 2008-09-07 12:50:58)
Good idea. Let's put it to the courts. But what courts? The American, Russian, or other? lol. And who really thinks the Russians will honor a court decision against them? It is still Russia after all. They might say they aren't communist anymore, but they really are you know.
Chris (Posted 2008-09-07 11:47:19)
Boris, I see you're once again spouting your anti-NHL, pro-KHL propaganda. Give it a rest. You've got your head so far up Radulov's behind that you can't see the light of day. In your opinions, the Russians never do anything wrong and everyone else is a Russian hating bigot. I'm not sure why it is so "shocky" to you that anyone would ever question the KHL or Radulov.
Boris (Posted 2008-09-07 11:07:03)
Yes, I'm sure that Daly is "very dissappointed" but not because the KHL is making the IIHF's decisions for them (since there is no evidence that they are), but only because it's now plain that he and the NHL don't have the clout to make the IIHF's decisions as they have grown accustomed to doing for years. "Boo-hoo. I ran to the IIHF and cried my eyes out and didn't get my way, so now I'm going to send an email to Ken Campbell at THN to get the sympathy I can't get from agency I used to be able to manipulate, poor me!" - Be biggots and bash Russians all you want, but at least read the writing on the wall. This isn't going to court because there is nothing for Daly to argue since there is no transfer agreement between these two leagues. He tried to get the IIHF to arbitrate and didn't get his own way, unless he thinks the arbitrating body is going to be himself and Gary Bettman, he's still not going to get what he wants. I'm not exactly happy to watch the sun starting to set on the NHL (although this is only the very early stages of that) but I find it shocky that THN and its readers are so absorbed with the self-importance of the NHL that they fail to recognize that is what is happening or that the culprits here are actually Daly and co. not Radulov or the KHL. Only your biggotry is blinding you to that fact it seems.
Boobirdz (Posted 2008-09-07 09:55:09)
Medvedev= the Alan Eagleson of Russian Hockey......
one of those russians (Posted 2008-09-07 09:15:39)
Does Ken know that Radulov' contract had been signed 3 days before the "gentlemen agreement"? Why NHL was quiet when Svitov and Chistov and several other players left their teams under contract? May be because there was no KHL or because they were not needed actually by their teams?
KHL is not a business. It's just an effort to make the huge sport expenses [which people and government expect from oligarchs to do as a ticket price for doing business in Russia, such a russian type of social responsibility] work more efficiently and [!!! the most important] to limit these expenses for the future.
KHL (or may be just A. Medvedev as a leader) need an contract agreement just because KHL wants to avoid the "money war" with NHL [exactly what we see now] when KHL will be overpaying for players and expenses of sponsors will be growing rapidly year over year. I think that NHL need it too for the same reasons. But it will not work if NHL will not respect russian contracts.
Some people say that KHL is like WHA. This is a big mistake. WHA had not oil, gas, metal and coal and the team owners were not loyal to government rules of social responsibility. So NHL should think twice. For me it's better to forget what had been done before and to fix the rules for the future.
Peter (Posted 2008-09-07 08:16:41)
If these guys want to waste their careers in the KHL let them. I live in Europe and pay zero attention to the KHL, like virtually every hockey fan I know. When Radulov retires he'll n doubt regret the fact that he turned his back on a career in the NHL and got nowhere near the Cup.
The NHL is better off without the likes of Radulov and if Western Europe can get its act together and form a league to rival the KHL then we'll all be better for it.
Jim Mac Auly (Posted 2008-09-07 08:03:50)
Getting a fair ruling out of the I.I.H.F. has the same 'snowball in Hell' chance of getting a fair ruling from the U.N. General Assembly. The I.I.H.F. was set up to administer international AMATEUR hockey and has a built in bias against the pros. Further, although hockey was originated, developed, and nurtured in Cannada and the pro game until recently existed only in North America, the majority of the I.I.H.F. members are by far European with their own loyalties, cliques, and axes ro grind. This goes right back to the days when Russian Army officers only military duty was to play hockey of N.H.L. calibre but were declared amateurs for the World Championships and Olympics while even mibor leaguers in North America were ineligible to compete. And the tournament leading Canadian juniors were banned from the World Junior Hockey Championship medal round because of a brawl started by the Russians who were getting their asses kicked and not in contention for a medal anyway. Legality, as the people of Georgia recently found out, means nothing to the Russians, or, at least, as little as the rules for judging figure skating. The ruling body of the I.I.H.F. is stacked with representatives of former 'Soviet Block' countries whose interlocking-tradeable influence is only further increased by recent division of these states into smaller supposedly automomous nations to give them even greater numbers and voting power. The true arbitrator of this dispute, like the N.H.L.'s battle with the W.H.A. will be based more on the almighty dollar and cents rather than legality and sense. How will that go? You read it here: 'The mushrooming N.H.L. salary cap will have trouble competing with home cooking, being culturally comfortable where your native language is spoken (many North Americans don't want to even end up in Quebec), and government subsidies in the form of tax free income, housing, and free cars.'
Jim Mac Auly (Posted 2008-09-07 07:53:55)
Getting a fair ruling out of the I.I.H.F. has the same 'snowball in Hell' chance of getting a fair ruling from the U.N. General Assembly. The I.I.H.F. was set up to administer international AMATEUR hockey and has a built in bias against the pros. Further, although hockey was originated, developed, and nurtured in Cannada and the pro game until recently existed only in North America, the majority of the I.I.H.F. members are by far European with their own loyalties, cliques, and axes ro grind. This goes right back to the days when Russian Army officers only military duty was to play hockey of N.H.L. calibre but were declared amateurs for the World Championships and Olympics while even mibor leaguers in North America were ineligible to compete. And the tournament leading Canadian juniors were banned from the World Junior Hockey Championship medal round because of a brawl started by the Russians who were getting their asses kicked and not in contention for a medal anyway. Legality, as the people of Georgia recently found out, means nothing to the Russians, or, at least, as little as the rules for judging figure skating. The ruling body of the I.I.H.F. is stacked with representatives of former 'Soviet Block' countries whose interlocking-tradeable influence is only further increased by recent division of these states into smaller supposedly automomous nations to give them even greater numbers and voting power. The true arbitrator of this dispute, like the N.H.L.'s battle with the W.H.A. will be based more on the almighty dollar and cents rather than legality and sense.
Rey (Posted 2008-09-07 01:28:54)
My view is that russian league is for Russia,,,let em be,,,if a cowardly signed player goes home,,,let him be(FREEDOM),but have a STRICT clause,,YA AIN"T COMING BACK,,,WE(Canadiens& Americans)can LIVE without a few Russians,,,Let our young players develop within our system.We're THE BEST LEAGUE(Sweeds,Fins,Germans&most Russians SAY so)Only problem is:Can $$$$ SPOIL the game???
Kjetil A (Posted 2008-09-06 15:07:46)
I submit that THNs reaction here is somewhat naively hopeful.
What concessions are the KHL actually making? They are conceding that Filatov and Tikhonov are not contractually bound, but in these cases their argumentation in any case rested on the extremely weak foundation that Russian legislation lets the club retain the rights to players or at least right to compensation after their contracts have expired. In other words, a young player would in principle NEVER be free of contractual obligations, whether his contract has run out or not.
And arbitration seems to me like anything but a good deal from the NHL point of view. There is no transfer agreement, and the only binding obstacle to the Radulov signing is the agreement reached earlier this summer. The point with that agreement as the NHL saw it was intent, not technicality - but will an arbitrator see it that way? Arbitration seems an entirely inappropriate method to resolve this issue, and the outcome will depend not on the intrinsic merit of the case, but on whose perspective the arbitrator chooses to apply.
Moreover, given that the KHL has consistently demonstrated the exact opposite of what Medvedev now professes, for example by unilaterally renouncing the whole mutual respect agreement some days ago, there is a severe shortage of credibility and goodwill here.
It is time the NHL realises that the way to deal with this is to work out a detailed and concrete agreement with binding provisions, no scope for interpretation and nothing left to good intentions. If they try once more to fix it quickly and less formally, or go along with third party arbitration, they are going to get screwed.
Kjetil A (Posted 2008-09-06 14:53:14)
K.d.: No, the IIHF is a body that consists of a number of member organisations , among them the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. There is no presumed conflict of interest between them - on the contrary, the IIHF exists to take care of its members' interests. And fortunately also to enforce rules on them.
K.D. (Posted 2008-09-06 14:40:09)
Wouldn't it be a conflict of interest to be president of the K.H.L. and executive counsel of the IIHF at the same time. Smells like collusion.
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