The KHL vs the Blue Jackets

Okay, so maybe that is a stretch, but, I am already sick of these guys, as you probably can already tell.  Now, they are starting to send me press releases, which I don’t really understand.  I’m not really too concerned, but here is what they sent me when it came down that the IIHF was suspending all the players, including Filatov:

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KHL is in Disagreement with the Proposal to Suspend Players Signed Contracts

Today the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suggested conducting an investigation regarding six players: Alexander Radulov, Nikita Filatov, Tomas Mojzis, Jason Krog, Fedor Fedorov and Victor Tikhonov. Until this investigation has come to its final conclusion and the IIHF has rendered its decisions, all the concerned players will be suspended from international transfers and competitions.

Regarding this statement KHL clarifies its position:
We accept the idea of an investigation but specify that it should be conducted within the framework of the relevant legislation of Russia, USA and Canada, as well as in accordance with the labor law regulations of the KHL and the NHL.

However, the KHL cannot accept the proposal to suspend player’s signed contracts.
“We do not accept the idea of suspending the contracts because this has not been agreed on by KHL and NHL. The mentioned players should not be made ‘scapegoats’ due to the fact that the Memorandum of Agreement has not been signed between the KHL and the NHL.  In the absence of a signed Memorandum of Agreement between the KHL and the NHL, it is important to remember that the player is under contract with the individual clubs and the KHL can only enforce any such agreements with the NHL, once the Memorandum has been signed by all parties,” said KHL President Alexander Medvedev.

KHL management calls on NHL to sign the Memorandum of agreement and to put it into force from July, 10 2008, which will legally prevent similar cases between the NHL and the KHL in the future.

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Anyway, the Dispatch was granted an interview with the KHL President,  Alexander Medvedev.  It is a must read, but my favorite part of the interview is when Medvedev is asked if Filatov’s family had been threatened.  Here is Medvedev’s answer:

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A: Good God! I have a nagging suspicion you read a lot of James Bond stuff in your spare time! This is not the case or the reality of the KHL.

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It cracked me up, I think it was funny.  Anyway, I’m pretty sure Filatov is worth the fight!