In what appears to be a gesture of good faith the KHL (Kontinental Hockey League) have surprisingly agreed to have the Radulov case reviewed by a third party arbitrator for a final resolution.  Apparently someone has broken through to KHL president Alexander Medvedev, and my money is on the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation).  Medvedev is part of the executive council of the IIHF and I can almost hear the conversations that have gone on over the past 3 or 4 weeks.  Anyone order the Humble Pie … Anyone???

Last I heard Radulov, along with 5 other players - Nikita Filitov, Viktor Tikhonov, Thomas Mojzis, Jason Krog and Fedor Fedorov were all banned from participating in the IIHF competitions next year as a result of the conflict between the KHL and NHL.  Both leagues were throwing accusations at eachother for “poaching players still under contract.”  Bill Daly, NHL Deputy Commish, said from the get-go that the 5 players brought to the NHL were not under contract, evidently, Daly was right!  Radulov, on the other hand, was and still is under contract with Nashville (he still has one year left).  Nashville announced 2 weeks ago Radulov’s suspension from their organization and definded it as ”indefinite,” which tells me, if he wants to come back to the NHL in 1 year or 10 years - Nashville still owns his ass and he has 1 year left on his Rookie contract. 

I think what has transpired over the past couple weeks is a blend of actions / non-actions.  Bill Daly said the 5 russian players were not under contract, Radulov was under contract and the KHL is wrong.  Medvedev’s response was, you took five players we had contracts on and we took one.  Bill Daly and the NHL said nothing in response, Nashville suspended Radulov, the IIHF saw the writing on the wall, so they pulled Medvedev into an office one day and talked him into this “extension of the olive branch.”

**The KHL continues to dispute the NHL contracts signed by Andrei Lohitionev and Vyacheslav Voinov both with the LA Kings and also Addrei Mayorov with the Blue Jackets**

We have yet to hear Bill Daly’s response to the recent turn of events - however, Mr Medvedev is up on his podium pumping out pre-rehearsed sound bites …

“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.”

So as it stands now, the KHL and IIHF paved the way for first-round picks Nikita Filatov and Viktor Tikhonov to play in the NHL as early as this season and 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).  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. Medvedev said the decision will be final as far as the KHL is concerned, but it is not known whether the NHL has agreed to take the Radulov case to a third party.

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 the NHL decides to stick to its stance or have the dispute resolved by binding arbitration.

I think if the NHL does not allow this case to be decided by an arbitrator it would leave us holding the ball.  Medvedev bliked first - now it is time for the NHL to counter strike for the jugular and show the hockey world - You dont mess with US!  But, then again, this is Bettman, Daly and Campbell we are talking about.  They will find a way to screw this up too! *smile*

Tags: IIHF, KHL, NHL, Radulov