Pittsburgh Sports N'at

[Art2Gecko]

Hockey federation issues warning after Evgeni Malkin report
Friday, June 20, 2008
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
OTTAWA -- A newly formed hockey league in Russia reportedly is willing to make Penguins center Evgeni Malkin the highest paid player in the world, but luring him back to his homeland while he's under contract in the NHL apparently would come at a staggering cost.

That country's ability to compete in international events such as the Olympics, for starters, could be an issue.

The Toronto Star reported today that several clubs in the new Continental League are preparing to offer Malkin, who has a year left on his entry-level deal with the Penguins, a contract that would include a tax-free salary of $12.5 million.

But Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, took the highly unusual step of releasing a public statement to point out the penalties Russia could face if it would follow through with the plans expressed by an unnamed league official in the Star story.

"Although there will be no imminent Player Transfer Agreement between the IIHF and the NHL, all involved parties are in principal agreement to honor each other's contracts," Fasel said. "The NHL has informed the IIHF that this will be the policy of the league during the period without a PTA, and conversely, the IIHF has obligated its member national federations and leagues to do the same in its relations with the NHL.

"We would view any signing, from either side, of a player under a valid contract, who does not have any legally valid out-clause, to be a clear violation of the mutual understanding and existing principle. It would potentially be punishable with suspended national team eligibility and suspension from all competition or activity organized by the IIHF or any IIHF member national association. This would include events like the Olympic Winter Games, the IIHF World Championship or international club competitions like the Champions Hockey League.

"Given this, we are confident that the (Star) report is not substantiated."

Neither Penguins officials nor Malkin's representatives have commented on the Star story yet.


First published on June 20, 2008 at 12:50 pm