12/21/24
September 15, 2006
Russian court bans Malkin from playing in NHL: "'This is pure sports terrorism,' said Metallurg general director Gennady Velichkin after accusing the NHL of stealing Russia's best players." Meanwhile: "The NHL said it would not negotiate compensation packages with any Russian club after the Russians refused to sign a transfer agreement with the North American league."
posted by billsaysthis to hockey at 11:47 PM - 14 comments
Nice court system... I guess they closed the loophole after the fact and are now basing this decision on it. Can you imagine being a 20 year-old kid going through this? This is from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on Aug. 17th... ...Malkin's agents sent a fax to Metallurg Magnitogorsk and notified the Russian club's management that he intends to void the one-year contract he signed less than a fortnight ago. This resignation, legal in Russia (where hockey authorities reportedly are striving to close such a loophole), apparently was filed yesterday... ..."All we've got so far is a fax from his agents notifying us that they're giving us, under Russian law, the [mandatory] two-week's notice to terminate his contract so that he can join the Pittsburgh Penguins," Metallurg coach Dave King, formerly of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Canadian national team, said in a radio interview yesterday with The Fan 590-AM in Toronto. I'm not a lawyer, but if the above quote is accurate, it doesn't sound like they'd have a case in a US court.
posted by SummersEve at 07:11 AM on September 16, 2006
Here is some great leg work on the two week loop hole. The important distinction to note is that the tribunal applied Russian Federal Law rather Labor Law, which is where the loophole resides. My $100 question: Does Russian Federal Law consider a contract signed under duress valid, and how is 'duress' proven in a court of law.
posted by garfield at 09:23 AM on September 16, 2006
I chalk all this up to posturing for the bigger picture - this is just foreplay before the big battle over a potential transfer arrangement between the two leagues. I mean, who cares if Malkin is banned to play in NHL from a body that can't possibly enforce it? What bullshit. There is no case.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:57 AM on September 16, 2006
I have long hoped to see Malkin in the NHL. Too bad there has to be some bureaucratic cloak and dagger type stuff to accompany his move. But when the pucks drops (or the fantasy drafts kick off) then woo + hoo! I think the second biggest thing for me in this story might be the question - when did North American papers start using "fortnight"? I must admit that is new to me for things on this side of the pond.
posted by gspm at 09:21 PM on September 16, 2006
This is "sports terrorism". The Malkin thing? Well, not so much. It's always disappointing when someone who knows they might be quoted blows an issue way out of proportion. I'm hoping the Director of Magnitogorsk is just a victim of a shitty translator. Otherwise, that dude has to start planning his interview answers in advance and having his friends look them over or something. As soon as you read that phrase, you start to think that that guy might be reaching a bit, and it makes his stance seem less reasonable.
posted by Samsonov14 at 02:48 AM on September 17, 2006
As usual, Weedy's right on.... Doesn't look like this will affect Malkin playing with Pittsburgh, but Magnitogorsk is posturing in hopes of a big payday. Here's a quote from Saturday's Post Gazette: While Magnitogorsk seems to have abandoned hope of getting Malkin back into its lineup, team officials have publicly stated their desire to receive financial compensation for his rights. The NHL rejects that idea because it conflicts with the transfer agreement the league negotiated with the International Ice Hockey Federation. That pact provides for a $200,000 payment for European players who come to the NHL, but Russia has refused to participate. Magnitogorsk contends that fee would be inadequate for Malkin and, from a purely on-ice perspective, his performance yesterday makes a pretty good case for their position.
posted by SummersEve at 10:38 AM on September 17, 2006
I agree that $200k is inadequate and the Russians are (rightly IMO) looking for economics closer to what we see in European football tansfers.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:48 PM on September 17, 2006
I agree that $200k is inadequate and the Russians are (rightly IMO) looking for economics closer to what we see in European football tansfers. Yes, but that is European football, not international hockey. Those are two different beasts, and it's pretty hard to compare them when their financial situations are so different.
posted by grum@work at 01:45 PM on September 17, 2006
Grum, I don't agree and since we're talking about a European club I'll wager they don't wither. NHL and European clubs are unlikely to trade players in the American tradition and yet the club which develops a young player ought to get something in return, if only to fuel future player development. Further, NHL clubs will generate significant financial benefits, on average, from these players and since this is a capitalist society (right? otherwise why all the big yammering any time a player holds out or there's a strike/lockout) they ought to be willing to pay a reasonable fee.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:10 PM on September 17, 2006
The revenue generated by the Premeriship was quoted as £1.3 billion in the 03/04 season. ($2.44 billion USD with today's rate). The NHL grossed $2.1 billion USD the year before the lockout. So, while it is like comparing rashers to streaky bacon, the total revenues are in about the same ballpark (with fewer teams and games played in the Premiership, of course, and the teams making the big expenditures on the transfer market having European football as a further revenue stream). Which is what the clubs getting their players yoinked for $200k must be thinking.
posted by gspm at 05:19 PM on September 18, 2006
gspm, are you broadcasting from an undisclosed location? Suchs thoughts are banned by the NHL, and its minions.
posted by garfield at 09:27 PM on September 18, 2006
Ha! Fuzzy math! Fuzzy math!
posted by gspm at 10:14 AM on September 19, 2006
More good background on the entire player transfer fiasco. Good news for Russia, the present transfer agreement is only for two years, so they have a window to negotiate with the NHL next summer.
posted by garfield at 10:21 AM on September 22, 2006
"Sports Terrorism?" Tell me how you really feel... While I think that contracts should be honored, I don't think that they should be honored if the player feels threatened into signing it. It's my understanding that Malkin felt that his family and himself were 'urged' to sign the one year deal with Metallurg. I thought that the Cold War ended a while ago?