[vincesanity82]

The Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, and Switzerland ratified a four-year transfer agreement between the International Ice Hockey Federation member associations and the NHL on Thursday. As with the last four-year agreement, Russia refused to sign.
The agreement regulates transfers to the NHL from all non-North American IIHF-affiliated associations and leagues, except Russia. It stipulates financial compensation, a limit on the number of players that can leave Europe annually, and imposes a transfer deadline.
The agreement also regulates the release of NHL players to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and the world championships.
Highlights of the new agreement include:
• The deadline for signing players under contract is June 15, for each of the four years. IIHF players subject to NHL draft-related rights who have not yet signed an NHL contract must be signed by the NHL team by June 1 in any year of the current agreement.
• Players not under contract to an IIHF team may sign with an NHL team at any time.
• The NHL pays a basic development fee of $9 million for the first 45 players, $200,000 per player. If more than 45 IIHF players are signed, the NHL pays an additional $200,000 for each extra player.
• Players selected in the NHL draft can be signed until July 15 or until Aug. 15 in the year they are drafted. The NHL pays an additional fee of $100,000 for signing players in the later window between July 16 and Aug. 15.
• The IIHF is compensated for players who sign with NHL clubs but who are not on the team's roster for at least 30 games, including playoffs, in their first season. Those funds -- between $50,000 and $100,000 depending on draft round -- will be used for IIHF player transfers to the NHL that are outside the agreement, such as when European players are signed from North American junior clubs to the NHL.
In the 2006-07 NHL-season, 259 players -- 27.4 percent -- were from IIHF affiliated national associations outside of North America, according to the IIHF.
The IIHF and the NHL have had agreements in place for the last 12 years.
By refusing to sign, the Russian federation risks losing its players for nothing.
NHL clubs are forbidden from acquiring players already under contract in Russia, but can take free agents without paying compensation.
Current labor laws in Russia allow players such as Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin to give their club little notice before terminating a contract, freeing them to sign with an NHL team. But a new amendment to the law is expected to be implemented soon, preventing players from escaping so quickly.

ESPN - Six nations ratify NHL transfer pact; Russia out - NHL

[blueandwhite]

yeah, seems to me by not ratifying this, Russia loses out big time.
why is it they can't come to terms with this? is it a legal matter?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

yeah, seems to me by not ratifying this, Russia loses out big time.
why is it they can't come to terms with this? is it a legal matter?

Naw, sounds political...vintage Cold War stuff...I think Vladimir Putin has a different vision for Russia, one in which they do not cater to the whims of the West...I think this is an extension of that...

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Naw, sounds political...vintage Cold War stuff...I think Vladimir Putin has a different vision for Russia, one in which they do not cater to the whims of the West...I think this is an extension of that...

Sadly, I agree. As much as we try to avoid political discussions here, this is purely political in nature.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Sadly, I agree. As much as we try to avoid political discussions here, this is purely political in nature.

Yep, it was not my aim to start a debate...but it does seem to be tied into the issue with the agreement.

[blueandwhite]

you sure you guys aren't just being paranoid Americans?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

you sure you guys aren't just being paranoid Americans?

I'm not paranoid. Who told you to say that? Who's out to get me?

[blueandwhite]

- I knew it!

I just seems like a real cutting off their nose to spite their face, huh?
I do believe the russians aren't signing up because everyone else is signing up, and has for over a decade. They'll just lose players over and over again, like malkin.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

you sure you guys aren't just being paranoid Americans?

naw...but I do keep up with politics. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the period that followed saw a very weak Russia have little choice but to go along with most of what the West wanted...Putin, I believe, has tried or is trying, to come up with a more favorable balance for his country.

How would signing the agreement help Russia any? Like you said, they keep losing players anyway...why sign then? How would that make them an equal in anyway, shape or form?

[blueandwhite]

I think they would benefit financially plus it would be within a workable time frame for both sides, rather than have the "star" whisked away to another country where he will remain in hiding for a few months.
how about maintaining some dignity? creating a friendship? Some cooperation? makes one look good.
Right now, Russia looks like the kid that won't share.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I think they would benefit financially plus it would be within a workable time frame for both sides, rather than have the "star" whisked away to another country where he will remain in hiding for a few months.
how about maintaining some dignity? creating a friendship? Some cooperation? makes one look good.
Right now, Russia looks like the kid that won't share.

Exactly! Darn it, they are not getting a fair share of international attention, so they are going to pout until they do.

I also do not think that the amount of financial compensation is great enough for them to break rank from their current politicl agenda.

...and look what happened when they did cooperate and tried it the other way...no Malkin and no real legal recourse either.

Sometimes its best to walk away from the negotiation table in order to gain some leverage or make a point.

It's gamesmanship, and I think it will favor them a bit better in the long run.