NHL, KHL agree to new 'Memorandum of Understanding' to keep partnership rolling
The National Hockey League (NHL) of North America and the Russian, Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), have come to mutual terms and conditions on a new ‘Memorandum of Understanding’, which was signed by both sides on Monday, July 16, 2012.
It comes at a good time when insiders are hinting at what could be termed to be another NHL regular season lockout with talks lingering on about a new labour deal between the league and the Players’ Association.
The MOU has been a major factor between both leagues in order to keep the process of player transitions between the two as smooth as possible.
Avoiding any contract mishaps or unwanted situations is obviously the main objective and seeing how the two stakeholders did not take long to reach a new deal, things should continue working smoothly.
"The new Memorandum is yet another very important stage of progress between the KHL and the NHL," KHL President, Alexander Medvedev, said in a statement. "The previous agreement ran for one year, during which there was not a single failure -- every transfer of a player between one league and the other was conducted without a single conflict situation arising. This shows how both organizations are playing by the same rules. In the near future we will be able to regulate with more precision any transfers of players from the NHL to the KHL and vice versa."
According to the newly signed MOU, both leagues have agreed on a number of issues and how to deal with each other including eight points on various topics such as information on player contracts to be exchanged.
It also lists that contracts from either side should be respected and, allowed to play through before a transition from one league is made from another.
Free agent lists will be shared between the NHL and KHL along with any negotiations and disputes that may arise between a player and the team. There was also a margin for error as each team would have the right to play out a deal according to what they think best in a situation of dispute.
For many players, it might also curtail the opportunity to go and play in the KHL as an alternative to a locked out season.
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