KHL and NHL sign Memorandum of Understanding

Today KHL and NHL signed the Memorandum of Understanding – the agreement, which confirms mutual respect of the two leagues for professional contracts of their players, obliges both parties to regularly perform a number of procedures aimed to avoid conflict situations during transfers of players from one league to another.

The Memorandum was signed by the KHL president Alexander Medvedev and the NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

The document includes nine items:

1. Starting on July 1, 2011 both parties should exchange data on players having contracts in force with the KHL or NHL clubs, including name, surname, date of birth, club, contract expiry date and the player’s status. On demand of one of the parties, the other party should send a full copy of the player’s contract.

2. The KHL and the NHL must update data on any changes in players’ contracts database every week.

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

4. Not later than July 11, 2011 the KHL should give the NHL a standard form of player’s contract translated into English (unilateral, bilateral, and tryout contract). The NHL shall review this contract, and, in case of no observations on any item, shall undertake to respect this form of contract, i.e. not to conclude contracts with players having a contract in the KHL.

5. Not later than July 11, 2011 the NHL should give the KHL a standard form of player’s contract. KHL, in its turn, shall also study the contract, and, in case of no observations on any item, shall undertake to respect this form of contract, i.e. not to conclude contracts with players having a contract in the NHL.

6. In case of any conflict situations, both parties should appoint their official representatives to hold negotiations.

7. 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.

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

9. The NHL and the KHL shall use their best efforts to reach a consensus concerning each player’s disputed contract status, including the cases of labor conflicts, contract disputes, etc. In case of failure to reach a consensus, each party reserves itself the right to act in the way it considers appropriate in such circumstances.

The contract shall be effective until June 30, 2012, according to the KHL official website.