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Dispute between KHL, NHL over forward Radulov could go to court

The Canadian Press

2008-09-06 16:30:00

ZURICH, Switzerland - The dispute between the NHL and a newly formed Russian hockey league over forward Alexander Radulov appears headed for court.

The Continental Hockey League (KHL) withdrew its appeal on five other player transfers at a meeting between the International Ice Hockey Federation and nine member countries held on Saturday, but couldn't resolve the Radulov case, the IIHF announced in a release.

The NHL and KHL will now go to court or arbitration to decide who owns his rights.

Radulov had one year remaining on his contract with the Nashville Predators when he signed a deal with Ufa.

He believes the deal with the Russian team is valid because it was signed before the NHL and KHL agreed to honour each other's contracts.

The Predators suspended the 22-year-old indefinitely without pay on Tuesday, but didn't rule out that he would return to the team in the future.

"At some point, we hope Alex will have a desire to return to the NHL and compete in the best league in the world," Predators GM David Poile said in a release. "We will re-visit his status at that time."

The KHL withdrew its appeal on five players who were signed away from the KHL by NHL clubs, including Columbus Blue Jackets winger Nikita Filatov, Minnesota Wild defenceman Tomas Mojzis, Vancouver Canucks centre Jason Krog, New Jersey Devils centre Fedor Fedorov and Phoenix Coyotes centre Viktor Tikhonov.

The KHL did contest the transfers of three other players: Los Angeles Kings prospects Andrei Loktionov and Vyacheslav Voinov, and Columbus prospect Andrei Mayorov.

To avoid future problems, the European IIHF member countries planned to create a standard player contract in order to strengthen the validity of contracts in IIHF-affiliated leagues.

COMMENTS (6)

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Luke Posted
(2009-04-30 06:56:37)



Cause Malkin honered his russian contact....right...
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Gallagher Posted
(2009-04-30 06:56:15)



They're facing the dire penalty of " having their cake, and eating it too ". Hmmm.. lucrative contract on one end, and jumping ship for the chance at even more $$$ on the other. As Mike pointed out - at least most would hesitate at sullying their good name and honor the deal they signed onto. Shouldn't matter which league that contract is with. Radulov should stick with the KHL now.
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Don Oskowski Posted
(2009-04-30 06:56:13)



Does anyone know ehat penalty these players are facing for not honoring their contracts, with either league?
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Conner's friend Posted
(2009-04-30 06:56:09)



Players not honoring there contracts? How do you think the "no trade clause" came into being? Because the organizations that signed a player to say a 3 year deal with an option year, routinely turned around and would trade that player 18 months later to who-knows-where. What about the team signing that deal? What's good for the goose.........
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David Posted
(2009-04-30 06:56:07)



Strong move by the KHL to concede those 5 players. A nice example to set. Let's see if anyone follows suit. Such as the NHL letting go of Radulov seeing as there was no agreement at the time (they should have seen it coming and acted a long time ago). Maybe even the NHLPA withdrawing their grievance about these players being banned from international play. Why should they get the priveledge of competition in these events when they won't honour their current contracts? (Radulov with one year left!)
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Mike Posted
(2009-04-30 06:56:02)



I had read that the IIHF has lifted their suspension of the players involved in transfer disputes. I think players such as Radulov, who are not man (or human) enough to honour contracts they have signed, should forfeit their right to play in any IIHF event. Yes, he is a very talented hockey player and also very good at signing his name, if only it meant something.
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