A Russian source is reporting that former Atlanta Thrasher Alexei Zhitnik has signed with Moscow Dynamo of the KHL.
On Friday, leaders of HK "Dinamo" (Moscow) signed a "trial" contract with the famous defender Alexei Zhitnikom, speaking for many years in NHL.
Former Blue Jackets defenseman Duvie Westcott, bought out this summer by Columbus, has signed with Dinamo Riga in the KHL.
Westcott was bought out of the final two years of his contract by the Blue Jackets this summer, meaning he'll earn $600,000 plus from the Jackets over the next four years. He tried to get a one-way contract in the NHL, but found no takers.
Don't know how much he's making in Latvia, but he's probably well compensated. He's also surrounded with friends.
Former Blue Jackets forward Mark Hartigan, who won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in June, is off to Latvia, too. Westcott and Hartigan are best buddies from their St. Cloud State days. In fact, their summer homes are right next door in Minnesota.
Other players you may recognize on the team: Marcel Hossa, Ronald Petrovicky, Filip Novak.
From Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch:
"It's only going to get worse in the minds of (NHL) general managers," one NHL agent said. "They are going to be more reluctant to take (Russian players) early because they're not sure if they will be able to come over."
Weary of seeing their best players flock to the NHL with little compensation, a new breed of deep-pocketed Russian owners is fighting back. Those owners are attempting to keep elite, homegrown talent within the startup Continental Hockey League (KHL) or secure transfer fees similar to international soccer.
KHL president Alexander Medvedev, a billionaire who made his fortune in natural gas, disputes Filatov's right to leave his club, CSKA Moscow, and join the Blue Jackets without paying a $1.5 million buyout. Never mind that it appears as though Filatov no longer is under contract to CSKA Moscow. It seems Medvedev is intent to raise a fuss over every high-profile selection, and the Russian federation is encouraging other European leagues to stand their ground, as well.
From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:
Q: How much compensation do you believe the Blue Jackets owe CSKA Moscow for Filatov's rights?
A: I am not in position to discuss compensation or any financial issues connected with this case. The only thing I can say is that to develop such a player costs a lot (of money). I guess it is the same case in most countries.
Q: You have stated that Filatov's contract was terminated with CSKA Moscow. If so, why do the Blue Jackets owe compensation?
A: I have to update you on this situation. Filatov's contract was signed with the CSKA club under the rules of the previous league. Last spring, all the contracts were reissued with KHL form. Once again, I have to tell you that I am not going into details on the question of financial compensation.
From Jessica Hopp of the Tennessean:
Predators forward Alexander Radulov participated in his new Russian team's training camp Friday even though his contract was suspended by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Continental Hockey League President Alexander Medvedev said the international federation can't keep Radulov off the ice during domestic competition or camp.
The suspension applies to his new team Salavat Yulaev Ufa's games in the inaugural Champions Hockey League, a tournament to determine Europe's top club team that starts in October. It also would apply to the World Championships and the Olympics.
From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:
It's unclear how much sway a suspension from international tournaments would hold with Filatov, an 18-year-old forward, but those close to him say it would not prevent him from playing in North America this season. If he doesn't make the Jackets' roster out of training camp, Filatov is expected to be sent to their minor-league affiliate in Syracuse, N.Y., or to a junior-league team.
From Jeff Klein of the NY Times:
Hall of Famer Igor Larionov has agreed to become the director of hockey operations for SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL club owned by league president and Gazprom export CEO Alexander Medvedev and coached by U.S. citizen Barry Smith, the Russian daily Sovietskiy Sport is reporting.
According to the report, Larionov will sign a two-year deal with SKA upon his arrival at the St. Petersburg airport on Sunday afternoon, at which point he will meet with reporters. Soon after, according to the report, he will join the team at its training camp in Finland.
From the KHL Press Service:
“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.
TSN is reporting that the IIHF has suspended former (?) Predators forward Alexander Radulov as it investigates some transfers from the NHL to the KHL.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has suspended Alexander Radulov while they investigate the details of his transfer to the newly formed Russian KHL.
As well, the transfer of five other players - Nikita Filatov, Thomas Mojzis, Jason Krog, Fedor Fedorov and Viktor Tikhonov - is also being investigated by the governing body
.
Good for the IIHF. The Russians have long complained about the NHL stealing players under contract, then turn around and do the same thing. It will be best for both sides to get a good working agreement in place.
From the NY Times:
According to an item on the web site championat.ru (translations by Jeff Klein), the Russian KHL has announced this morning that it is officially declaring a moratorium on signing NHL players except those who are free agents and will respect existing NHL contracts. According to the statement made today, the KHL recognizes the agreement of July 10, the day the KHL, NHL, NHLPA and IIHF worked out their most recent understanding in Zurich.
From Jeff Klein of the NY Times:
KHL president Alexander Medvedev said yesterday that the “existing gentleman’s agreement” worked out between the NHL, KHL and IIHF in Zurich on Thursday “is not backed by documents,” allowing Alexander Radulov to leave his Nashville contract and go to Salavat Yulaev Ufa because no international agreement had yet been signed when Radulov made his move.
Mevedev said the agreement would be signed “in two or three days, probably Monday,” and that once it is signed, it will “not be retroactive.” Radulov’s move to Salavat is “a situation not subject to dispute,” said Medvedev, who represented the KHL at the Zurich meeting.
From Jeff Klein of the NY Times:
Nashville forward Alexander Radulov has reportedly signed a three-year contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, the current Russian champions, according to a report in the Russian paper Sport-Express and first carried in English by the web site Fourth Period. Radulov, 22, reportedly has one year left on his contract with the Predators. Under the preliminary agreement reached last month and confirmed Thursday in Zurich between NHL and KHL officials not to poach players under contract, Radulov may have to stay in Nashville. No reaction yet from NHL, KHL, Predators or Salavat officials.]
Alexander Radulov has made the jump back home, as the young forward signed with Ufa of the Russian Superleague on Thursday. The financial details of the contract were not disclosed.Radulov, who is still under contract with the Nashville Predators, said he had warned the team that he wanted to play in Russia.
From Jeff Klein of the NY Times:
All the two leagues agreed to in Zurich today (Thursday) was to continue the de facto arrangement they made several weeks ago — an arrangement given teeth by IIHF president and International Olympic Committee member Rene Fasel when he said last month that any federation that violated an existing contract would be barred from the Olympics.
Despite headlines that read “NHL, Russian league reach deal on player transfers” (National Post), “NHL, Russian league reach peace deal” (Yahoo news), and “NHL, Russian hockey league reach transfer agreement” (CTV.ca), nothing of the sort has actually happened.
Ray Emery has signed with Atlant Mytishchi of the KHL for one year at $2 million plus bonuses.
Though I thought an NHL club would sign Emery, he can likely improve his bargaining power by playing a year in Russia and keeping his nose clean. Teams always need goaltenders, and if Emery can prove he is a proven puckstopper, he will get another chance. Plus, if he is late for practice in Russia, I would imagine he gets a one way ticket to Siberia."Unfortunately, it's only been a short time since the buyout and there isn't anybody willing to give (Emery) a second chance at this time," said Emery's agent J.P. Barry. "I think if people knew the things that he's done over the last little while to turn the corner, there might be more interest out there.
According to Barry, Emery had hoped to play in the NHL next season, but received just three calls.
"Given his offer from Atlant, in Ray's circumstances, we feel the best thing for him to do is play as the No. 1 goalie with this club. Ray is excited about the opportunity and just wants to go back to focusing on being the best goalie that he can be. He knows there will be a lot of pressure, but he's ready for that and he's looking forward to moving on," Barry added.
