IIHF suspends Radulov, five others

Jul 18, 2008 - 9:09 PM ZURICH, Switzerland (Ticker) -- Alexander Radulov's return to Russian hockey has been put on hold.

Radulov and five other players were suspended Friday by the International Ice Hockey Federation, which announced its plans to officially investigate the details of their international transfers.

"Until this investigation has come to its final conclusion and the IIHF has rendered its decisions, all concerned players will be suspended from international transfers and competitions," the IIHF said in a statement released Friday morning. "All decisions will be made in the framework of the national legislation applicable for each player's contract."

The announcement came just eight days after the IIHF, the NHL, the Players' Association and Russia's newly formed Continental Hockey League mutually agreed to respect the contracts of players already under contract in the respective leagues.

Radulov, a 22-year-old Russian who had one year remaining on his contract with the NHL's Nashville Predators, directly violated that agreement seven days ago when he signed a three-year deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

At the time of the controversial signing, IIHF president Rene Fasel informed the Continental Hockey League that the deal was a violation of the new international agreement and asked it to void the contract. A week later, the IIHF decided to further investigate the situation.

"We hope that this can be resolved amicably and in a timely manner," Fasel said Friday. "It is unfortunate that we are already facing such difficulties after the progress that was made last week. I am hoping that all sides can come to a solution."

Drafted 15th overall in 2004, Radulov recorded 26 goals and 31 assists in 81 games last season, his second in the NHL. According to multiple reports, Radulov, who was slated to make just under $1 million with the Predators next season, will earn up to $24 million over the duration of his contract with Ufa.

Radulov recently claimed that he informed Predators management that he has been unhappy in Nashville and wanted to return to his homeland. Prior to coming to North America, the right wing played for Moscow of the Russian Super League in 2003-04.

The other five players suspended by the IIHF were Nikita Filatov, Jason Krog, Tomas Mojzis, Fedor Fedorov, and Viktor Tikhonov.

Filatov was the sixth player selected in last month's NHL draft and has signed a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. But according to Continental Hockey League president Alexander Medvedev, Filatov still is under contract with CSKA Moscow.

Krog, 32, signed Monday with the Vancouver Canucks after winning the American Hockey League's postseason MVP award. But the six-year NHL veteran reportedly had already agreed to a contract with a Russian club.