NHLPA unhappy with IIHF decision

Jul 19, 2008 - 9:21 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The NHL Players' Association is ready to square off with the International Ice Hockey Federation.

One day after the IIHF suspended six players for violating their contractual obligations, NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly on Saturday voiced his displeasure with the decision and threatened legal action.

"Yesterday's announcement by the IIHF that they have suspended certain players from international competition has no basis in fact or law and constitutes a violation of the rights of these players," Kelly said in a statement. "The affected players are being unfairly singled out in a dispute between the NHL and the KHL (the newly formed Continental Hockey League in Russia) over whether to respect each others' contracts. The NHLPA's strong objection to this unilateral action by the IIHF has been registered, and unless this action is reversed, the NHLPA will consider all legal options available."

On Friday, Alexander Radulov of the Nashville Predators was among the six players suspended by the IIHF, which announced it officially would investigate the details of their international transfers. The suspensions came just eight days after the IIHF, the NHL, the Players' Association and the KHL - among others - mutually agreed to respect the contracts of players in their respective leagues.

Radulov, a 22-year-old Russian who had one year remaining on his contract with the NHL's Predators, directly violated that agreement the following day by signing a three-year deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

At the time of the controversial signing, IIHF president Rene Fasel informed the KHL that the deal was a violation of the new international agreement and asked it to void the contract.

Friday's decision by the IIHF did not sit well with Kelly, who believes the lack of an official international transfer agreement gives the organization no right to issue suspensions.

"In the absence of a transfer agreement or a written memorandum of understanding agreed to by all necessary parties, including the NHLPA, the IIHF cannot unilaterally act to sanction members of the NHLPA," he said. "The NHLPA appreciates that the IIHF is taking action in an attempt to resolve the dispute between the NHL and KHL. The NHLPA will support these efforts by the IIHF, but not if individual players are subjected to improper sanctions."

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

Mojzis inked a deal with the Minnesota Wild on July 7 after spending the 2007-08 season with Sibir Novosibirsk of the Russian Continental League. Fedorov, the younger brother of former Hart Trophy winner Sergei Fedorov, reportedly has signed a contract with the New Jersey Devils, while Tikhonov was selected 28th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in this year's NHL draft.