The New Cold War: KHL Fires Back at NHL

When and if the NHL and the Russian Continental Hockey League reach an agreement governing player transfers, it must be applied retroactively—according to KHL President Alexander Medvedev. 

"Russia has not been a party to transfer agreement between the NHL and the IIHF for almost three years, so you can begin to talk about the reverse effect," Medvedev told the Russian newspaper Sports Express.

Medvedev is referring to several high-profile examples of Russian players being signed to NHL contracts while under contract in Russia.  The most notable example is the Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin.

"If we want to retroactively impose a new agreement into force, let us start from the moment when Russia withdrew from the treaty. Then, probably need to talk about compensation for Ovechkin and Malkin."

Medvedev also accuses the NHL of imposing a double standard with regards to its reaction to the Alexander Radulov signing. Radulov, with one year remaining on his entry-level deal with the Nashville Predators, caused a stir this past weekend by signing with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

While Radulov has received the most international attention, Vancouver Canucks forward Jason Krog has received relatievely little.  Medvedev claims that Krog, who signed with Vancouver over the weekend, was already under contract to Severstal Cherepovets at the time of the deal. 

Therefore, the NHL must not honor Krog's deal, or otherwise be guilty of the same poaching it accuses the KHL of with the Radulov deal.  The KHL President also accuses the NHL of impropriety with regards to the Columbus Blue Jackets' drafting and signing of Nikita Filatov. 

Filatov, the top-ranked European player in the 2008 draft, was selected eighth overall by the Blue Jackets and signed on July 10.  At the time it appears he was still under contract to CSKA Moscow of the KHL. This would entitle the club to compensation for the deal.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has promised to look into both the Radulov and Filatov contracts. 

"The IIHF will approach both cases with the same determination in order to bring clarity to the respective players' contractual status," says IIHF President René Fasel.  "We expect both the NHL as well as the KHL that they will not approve any contracts if the IIHF or any legal instance comes to the conclusion that the player is not to be considered an unrestricted free agent."

Who says the Cold War is over?