Medvedev Wants NHL Free Agents

Continental Hockey League

Medvedev is signaling that he is unhappy with native players leaving to play in the NHL and wishes for them to play in his league. His theory is that by increasing the monetary value of contracts to a level that NHL teams cannot possibly match, players will be lured away from their NHL teams. The Continental Hockey League goes by the acronym KHL in Russia.

Alexander Ovechkin

Top-tier Russian and European talent have traveled across the world to play in the NHL since the inception of the league. The most valuable player in NHL last season, Alexander Ovechkin, a native Russian, arrived in Washington, D.C. after being drafted first overall not considering Russia for a moment.

International Ice Hockey Federation

Under the recently expired International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) agreement, stipulations required NHL teams to pay European teams $200,000 for a player to forfeit his contract and play in the NHL. Russia opted out of this agreement three years ago. Medvedev called the $200,000 in compensation too little, and he wants a new deal that would also prevent players under twenty-one years old from switching leagues. No longer does the NHL have to pay for European talent and vice versa.

Evgeni Malkin

The expiration of this agreement changes free agency in hockey immensely. Pittsburgh Penguins’ Russian Evgeni Malkin finished second in the scoring race and MVP voting last season. Medvedev offered him $12.5 million a season, tax-free to play in his KHL for next season. Malkin made under $1 million last season. He would easily be the highest player in the world if he signed in Russia. Malkin decided to stay with his team. Still, the idea that Russia could lure away top NHL players, under contract, with an incredible amount of money sent shockwaves through the NHL. In response, NHL commissioner Bill Daly drafted a proposal asking that all leagues around the world honor player contracts before shopping for their services.

"The NHL, for decades, has ignored our contracts. Why should we respect them without any agreement? There is no legal basis for respect." Medvedev said, noting his league will comply when a deal is reached.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk

Led by Malkin’s former Russian team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Russian teams sued the NHL in October 2006, claiming that it broke U.S. antitrust law and improperly interfered in their business affairs by signing away players, including Malkin, who were still under contract. He was cleared to play for the Penguins only after a U.S. federal judge denied the Russians' claim.

Had Medvedev succeeded in bringing Malkin or any other player over, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), would have disciplined Russia by not allowing their national hockey team to participate in the Olympics or any other international competitions.

Future of the Continental Hockey League

Experts believe that the increase in pay will be offset by the inferior level of competition causing some players to scoff at being bought out by the KHL.

Ed Johnston, the assistant General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins feels this sentiment to be the case. “The pay is incredible but most of these kids want to play the best and be recognized in a large marketplace like the NHL. We’ll have to wait and see what transpires with this new league but I think the NHL will be fine.”

Still Medvedev is convinced his league will attract the best stars. “Even with a large contract with his team in the U.S., Malkin or the next star will take more money with us and promote our new league. I know it.”

Sources:

ESPN.com

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