NHL, Russia's CHL Reach Agreement To Respect Player Contracts
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Daly To Be Part Of Committee Working
On Long-Term Player Transfer Agreement |
The NHL and Russia's Continental Hockey League (CHL) Thursday at an IIHF meeting in Zurich achieved a "truce of sorts in their war over transfer fees," as the two leagues will "abide by each other's signed contracts until such time as the two sides can negotiate a new transfer agreement," according to an IIHF resolution cited by Eric Duhatschek of the GLOBE & MAIL. The IIHF also formed a "joint working group that will meet in early September to 'see if there is any common ground for a possible new long-term player transfer agreement.'" NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and CHL President Alexander Medvedev both were appointed to the committee. Duhatschek notes the "really high-end Russians all seem to want to come to North America," and the "inability to stem the exodus must be disappointing for Medvedev." Thus far, most NHLers heading to the CHL are "ones who couldn't find gainful employment in the NHL," while most of the Russian players coming to the NHL are the "creme de la creme of their system." It looked Thursday as if there was a "moderate thawing of relations between the two warring sides," but reaching a truce "is not the same as forging a lasting peace" (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/11). In Edmonton, Dan Barnes writes Medvedev "sees himself as the true champion of Russian hockey supremacy and as such is willing to fight the NHL for the right to control the future of all Russian players, regardless of where they are playing" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 7/11).
NO WORRIES FOR THE NHL: Daly said of the CHL, "We still believe the best hockey players in the world will continue to want to play in the NHL. But having said that, they want to establish a new order. ... It is an ambitious business plan and it looks like they have capable leadership." NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly "sees the Russian newcomer as a positive development," as demand for players is "likely to drive up salaries." Kelly: "It gives some of our guys another place to play. It gives them some leverage they might not otherwise have, which is to present to their NHL teams that they have a competing offer from a [CHL] team and maybe improve their bargaining position" (TORONTO STAR, 7/11).
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