New KHL / NHL Agreement

[timothy]

Signed a Memorandum of Understanding

http://en.khl.ru/news/2012/07/15/24648.html

1. From July 16, 2012, both parties should exchange data on any players who have existing contracts with KHL or NHL clubs. The data should include the player’s name, surname, date of birth, club, contract expiry date and his status. On demand of one of the parties, the other party shall supply a full copy of the player’s contract.

2. The KHL and the NHL are obliged to update the players’ contracts database every week with the latest information on any changes.

3. Both leagues should exchange their lists of free agents.

4. The KHL and NHL respect each other’s contracts. Both parties recognize and support the main principle: players under contract with a club from one league cannot fulfill any obligation to a club from another league during the term of the player’s contract.

5. In the event of any conflict or disagreement arising, both parties shall appoint their official representatives to hold negotiations.

6. Prior to such negotiations the parties undertake to provide all documents confirming or in any way associated with the player’s signing of a professional contract with any hockey club.

7. Toronto or New York shall be the venues for the negotiations between the official representatives of both leagues.

8. The NHL and the KHL are obliged to do everything in their power to reach a consensus concerning each player’s disputed contract status, including cases of labor conflicts, contractual disputes, etc. In the event of any failure to reach a consensus, each party reserves the right to act in the way it considers appropriate in such circumstances.

[the_narrow_way]

That all sounds reasonable.

[pete]

A MOU is barely worth the paper it's written on, though.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by pete

A MOU is barely worth the paper it's written on, though.

Especially with #8 - "...each party reserves the right to act in the way it considers appropriate in such circumstances."

I read that as "doing whatever the hell you want."

[Top Shelf]

Yeah, I read #8 the same way. The parties are obligated to do everything in their power to resolve disputes, unless they can't or won't; then they can do whatever the hell they want.

On its face #8 is without meaning; the other 7 are good enough on their merits

[Alex]

It's also a step in the right direction, if nothing more.