Once again, the Russian Hockey Federation (FHR) refused to join the agreement between the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the National Hockey League (NHL), which regulates the transition of players from Europe to overseas clubs. The Russian side is still not satisfied with the amount of compensation.
Thus, the NHL leadership received a formal reason not to let the Russians who play for American and Canadian clubs attend the World Championships, which will be held in April and May 2007 in Moscow and Mytishchi.
However, nothing is clear to the end. Negotiations between the three federations have been going on lately, and, as the president of the FHR, Vladislav Tretyak, said, "we managed to establish good, working relations, primarily with the leadership of the NHL." "On their part, we saw a great desire to cooperate, an interest in Russian players, and the negotiations themselves, in spite of everything, can be called constructive," he said.
It is unlikely that the Tretyak gives out the wish for the reality. This contract (in signed form) is needed by the NHL just like the FHR. Moreover, both the Russian and the National Hockey League want precisely civilized relationships.
By the way, if in Russia clubs oppose the signing of the agreement, in America and Canada they, on the contrary, put pressure on the leadership of the league to sign the agreement as soon as possible - they need it. First of all, because overseas do not want trials at the club level.
But in the FHR once again received letters from Kazan, Togliatti, Yaroslavl, Ufa and Magnitogorsk. The leaders of the leading hockey clubs of Russia once again ask the federation not to join the contract, but for now give them the opportunity to solve transfer issues themselves. First of all, they are not satisfied with the size of the compensation, and secondly, the fact that, according to the existing agreement between the IIHF and the NHL, overseas clubs can demand - just demand! - let go of any hockey player that he liked, even related to the current contract. European federations agreed to this agreement. The Russian refused to sign it - and still refuses.
It should be noted that even many Canadian experts recognize Russia's right to a special relationship with it. Vladislav Tretyak, who is in America these days, sees one of his top-priority tasks as president is to document this special attitude.
Valery WINGURT