I. The KHL
During the National Hockey League (“NHL”) labor dispute with (and subsequent lockout of) the National Hockey League Players Association (“NHLPA”), several NHL players opted to play in Russia’s professional hockey league, the Continental Hockey League (the “KHL”), including top-flight players such as Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Bryzgalov, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Ilya Kovalchuck. On January 12, 2013, after the NHL and NHLPA reached an agreement on a new CBA, several players hinted that they would consider staying in the KHL to play out the season. According to certain reports, the KHL also attempted to induce certain players to stay in Russia rather than return to the U.S. for the NHL season. In response to such reports, the NHL noted that the NHL and KHL have an existing transfer agreement, which both leagues had agreed would be honored. Ultimately,the majority of players did in fact return to the NHL in time for training camp and for participation in the NHL season.
II. Sochi Olympics
The 2014 Sochi Olympics are scheduled to take place in Sochi, Russia from February 7, 2014 through February 23, 2014. Since the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, the NHL has scheduled a two week break into its regular season and has allowed NHL players to participate in the Olympics as representatives of their respective “home” countries. The current CBA, however, does not address player participation or a break in the NHL regular season. In early February 2013, the NHL and international hockey officials met on two separate occasions in New York to try reach an agreement. However, they were unsuccessful in their efforts to reach an agreement. No new talks are scheduled, but the sides are expected to meet again.
III. Conference Realignment
Last year, the NHL proposed a major conference realignment plan for the 2012-2013 season – which would have divided the league into four divisions (two of which would have eight teams and two of which would have seven teams). However, the NHLPA did not consent and the NHL subsequently dropped the plan with the expectation that realignment would be addressed during the CBA negotiations. The current CBA, however, did not address conference realignment. However, on Thursday, March 7, 2013 the NHLPA approved the NHL’s realignment proposal. Pending, the NHL’s Board of Governors approval, the realignment is expected to go into effect next year. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on any new developments.
This post was authored by Richard Rubano, Elena Keil and Alexander Steinberg.
