The NHL is holding out on making a commitment to the 2014 Olympics in Russia. The NHL is booked only for 2010 in Vancouver, Canada, but not the following Games in Sochi, Russia.
Medvedev says he believes the NHL is using the 2014 Olympics as bait in the backdrop of its current problems with the Russian hockey federation and the KHL.
The NHL's complaint is that the Russians refuse to negotiate a new player-transfer agreement.
The 2014 Games will be the first time the Russian Federation will host the Winter Olympics. The Soviet Union hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.
Alexander Medvedev is the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Russian energy company Gazprom, and the Director-General of Gazprom's export arm Gazprom Export and president of the Kontinental Hockey League.
He is also the president of SKA Saint Petersburg hockey club and Russia's representative to the International Ice Hockey Federation Council.
The Kontinental Hockey League, founded in 2008, is considered to be the second-best league in the world, and at the top of the European elite leagues. The league was formed in 2008 from a predecessor organization, the Russian Superleague.
The KHL began its operations with 24 teams, 21 of which are based in the Russian Federation and three located in Belarus, Latvia, and Kazakhstan.
Teams from other countries teams are expected to join in future years. Berlin, Prague, Stockholm or Helsinki could soon join the KHL.
The KHL's top two former NHLers are Jaromir Jagr and Alexander Radulov. Jagr comes from the Czeck Republic and Radulov was born in the Soviet Union.
Alexander Radulov was still under contract with the Nashville Predators for one more season when he had signed a three-year deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL. The contract remains disputed.
Jaomir Jagr plays for Avangard Omsk in the KHL. Jágr formerly played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers.
Jágr is still in the top fifteen among players in NHL career goals, assists, and points, and is regarded as one of the game's all-time great players.
Jágr wore the number 68 in honor of the Prague Spring rebellion that occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1968.
His deal is for two years plus an option for a third, and will pay Jagr about $7 million tax-free—the equivalent of about $11 million a season in the NHL, depending on the value of the ruble.
Ray Emery, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, plays for Mytischi Atlant in the KHL.
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