In a stunning turn of events, the Kontinental Hockey League and International Ice Hockey Federation appear to have extended an olive branch to the NHL, which may ultimately lead to a thaw in the frigid relations between the KHL and the NHL.
''We have gone with an open hand to the NHL,'' KHL president Alexander Medvedev told thn.com in a telephone interview Saturday. ''We are hoping to get a positive reaction from the NHL.''
After a meeting Saturday in Zurich - that included Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson - the KHL and IIHF paved the way for first-round picks Nikita Filatov and Viktor Tikhonov to play in the NHL as early as this season and the KHL agreed to send the Alexander Radulov case to an independent third party for a final resolution.
The KHL withdrew its disputes to the transfers of five players, including Filatov and Tikhonov, both of whom had been drafted in the first round in June and were expected to play in North America this season. Filatov was taken sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tikhonov went 28th overall to the Phoenix Coyotes. Both have signed contracts with their teams, but the KHL claimed both players were still under contract to their Russian teams in the KHL and disputed both deals.
The KHL also dropped its opposition to the transfers of Tomas Mojzis (who signed with the Minnesota Wild), Jason Krog (Vancouver Canucks) and Fedor Fedorov (New Jersey Devils).
As far as Radulov is concerned, the KHL agreed to send his case to either court or binding arbitration. Despite having a year remaining on his contract with the Nashville Predators, Radulov signed a three-year deal with Salavat Ufa of the KHL that has essentially tossed relations between the two leagues into disarray.
The decision by the KHL seems a stunning reversal in attitude for the Russian league.
''I must admit I was surprised at the concessions the KHL made, but at some time you have to cut bait and move on,'' said one insider familiar with both sides.
As a result, Radulov will no longer be suspended from IIHF competition, which means he will be able to participate in the lucrative, IIHF-sponsored Champions League in Europe until his case is decided. Medvedev said the decision will be final as far as the KHL is concerned, but it is not known whether the NHL has agreed to take the Radulov case to a third party.
Attempts to reach NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly were not successful.
''We would like to create an environment where mutual respect of contracts is more than just a nice slogan,'' Medvedev said. ''I believe every objective analyst or supporter of hockey, regardless of nationality or location, should appreciate that we are doing everything possible to have a civilized, transparent and legally solid method of player transfers between the KHL and the NHL. Our friends will never forgive (the KHL and NHL) if we create an environment and all of hockey will suffer. We know people are watching us and waiting for a decision.''
The KHL, however, continues to dispute the NHL contracts signed by Andrei Lohtionev and Vyacheslav Voinov of the Los Angeles Kings and Andrei Mayorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
From an NHL perspective, this is certainly positive news. The league maintained all along that both Filatov and Tikhonov, both of whom stand a good chance of making their teams, were free of contractual obligations in Russia. Now the key to resolving the Radulov dispute will depend on whether or not the NHL decides to stick to its stance or have the dispute resolved by binding arbitration.
Whether or not this leads to a possible transfer agreement between the NHL and the European federations, including the KHL, remains to be seen.
''I really hope it happens,'' said Medvedev, who is also a member of the executive council of the IIHF.
Medvedev, meanwhile, said the KHL is encouraged by its first couple of weeks of operation.
''It's not only my opinion, but that of international experts, that there has been a positive trend in the level of hockey,'' Medvedev said. ''It is much higher than it was before. The TV audiences are much bigger and I think the public appreciates it.''