What's the big deal if both sides already agreed?

Question

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=243800&lid=sublink04&lpos=headlines_main

Why is the IIHF sticking their noses into this? Is there some subtle and vague legal precedent that no one outside the federation knows about?

Answer 1

The agreement is iffy at best.

The IIHF can suspend anyone they want from competing internationally.

Radulov is an example. He had a contract with the Predators for this season, but reneged on it and decided to go back to Russia. The Preds were ticked, after all the resources they used to help the guy develop.

Answer 2

The NHLPA is pissed because someone else is figuring out how to play their game. They have been buying the best players from the Swedish Elite and other Euro leagues for years for a relatively small transfer fee. For the past few years the Russians didn't want to play that game and refused to sign the IIHF transfer agreement because the money involved didn't make up for the talent they were losing.

Right now, the Russians are doing to us what we have been doing to everyone else for years. "Player's under contract, oh well, here's a cheque go tell someone who cares". The IIHF is stepping in and saying "enough is enough, we need to step up the rules here". As it is, what's stopping the KHL from handing out big contracts to Malkin or Ovechkin when their league can afford it?

The IIHF is doing the right thing by stepping in now before the situation gets to the boiling point, albeit with limited power.

Answer 3

The agreement between the leagues was that they would honor each other's contracts, (NHL, IIHF) The IIHF is suspening those players until they can acertain weather or not the teams/players have violated that agreement....

Answer 4

Because a) the NHL and the Russian leagues cannot reach amicable decisions on their own and b) they keep trying to s***w each other over.

Even though an "agreement" exists, the NHL and Russians are not in agreement about when some of these contracts technically went down versus when the agreement was reached. Even that last part is in question - a handshake arrangement was supposedly already in place as of the draft this year with the same conditions - no poaching. Yet the Radulov deal still went down. It's like any other legal issue - some independent body needs to mediate and in this case the IIHF is that governing body.

The entire thing is absolutely stupid anyway. There are only two things that matter. 1) Players are people and people are free to choose where they want to live and where they want to work. If a Russian wants to come play in the NHL, that's his business and vice versa. The only thing that supercedes that is b) abiding by contract law. You sign it, you live up to it. Put in an out-clause if you think you might want to make a move but otherwise be a mature adult.

I think the IIHF is doing the right thing in suspending players if they violate their contracts, although ultimately it will only hurt the Euro clubs more since they are more dependent on the players than I think the US or Canada is (and how many good US or Canadian players go to Europe over the NHL anyway).

Answer 5

I know!  What's even more confusing is why should they be suspended they're just caught in the middle of a crappy transfer agreement it's not like any wrong doing was done on the player's part they just signed deals.  If anyone should be suspended it should be the management of the teams in question