Radulov among six players suspended by IIHF
Nashville Predators forward Alex Radulov was one of six players whose new contracts were suspended by hockey's international governing body on Friday until the legality of the deals could be investigated.
Radulov, under contract for another season with the Predators, signed a contract with a Russian team in the new Continental Hockey League (KHL).
That deal seemingly would be in breach of a pact agreed to July 10 between the KHL, the NHL, the NHL Players' Association, and international hockey leagues in which contracts worldwide would be honoured and respected.
But the KHL contends the deal between Radulov and his KHL team was reached two days before the leagues agreed to obey existing contracts.
The International Ice Hockey Federation told the NHL, the NHLPA and the KHL that the international transfers of Radulov and five others are officially under investigation.
Nikita Filatov, Viktor Tikhonov, Jason Krog, Tomas Mojzis and Fedor Fedorov are also having their deals reviewed.
All parties have until July 31 to submit documentation to the IIHF.
"We hope that this can be resolved amicably and in a timely manner," IIHF president Rene Fasel said Friday. "It is unfortunate that we are already facing such difficulties after the progress that was made last week.
"I am hoping that all sides can come to a solution."
Problems arose due to the lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL. A signing moratorium was established after representatives from the NHL, NHLPA, and IIHF met last week in Zurich, but the deal has yet to be signed.
The six players won't be eligible to participate in international transfers and competitions while the investigation is ongoing.
Filatov was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the No. 6 pick in the first round of the June draft and recently agreed to terms on an entry level NHL contract.
Tikhonov, chosen No. 28 by Phoenix, came to terms with the Coyotes. Both players' Russian teams say they already had deals in place.
Krog, an NHL veteran, signed with Vancouver after he reportedly came to terms with a team in Russia. Mojzis, who played last season in Russia, has a new deal with the Minnesota Wild.
The KHL said it would accept the investigation, provided it was conducted within the framework of relevant legislation in the U.S., Russia and Canada, and in accordance with the labor law regulations of the NHL and KHL.
However, the KHL strongly opposed the decision to suspend the players.
"We do not accept the idea of suspending the contracts because this has not been agreed on by KHL and NHL," KHL president Alexander Medvedev said in a statement.
"The mentioned players should not be made 'scapegoats' due to the fact that the memorandum of agreement has not been signed between the KHL and the NHL."
Toews third-youngest captain in NHL history
CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks announced Friday that centre Jonathan Toews will serve as the team's captain for the 2008-09 season, making him the third-youngest captain in NHL history.
Only Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby and Tampa Bay Lightning centre Vincent Lecavalier, both while still 19, became captains at a younger age than the 20-year-old Toews.
"Jonathan deserves this honour," said Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon. "He is a tremendous individual and a wonderful leader on and off the ice. He has experience in captaining teams from his world junior appearances and guys follow his lead in our locker room."
Toews led NHL rookies last season with 24 goals and seven power-play markers while ranking third with 54 points in 64 games.
The Winnipeg native was Chicago's first choice, third overall, in the 2006 NHL entry draft.
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