Jiri Hudler’s move from Detroit to Moscow approved in latest NHL-KHL contract dispute

Hudler’s disputed move to Moscow approved

ZURICH — The International Ice Hockey Federation approved the disputed transfer of Jiri Hudler from the Detroit Red Wings to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Czech forward has been at the center of a dispute between the NHL and Russia’s KHL, which have ongoing disagreements over transfers and respecting contracts.

Ice hockey’s world governing body said that Hudler could join Dynamo despite not having free-agent status after agreeing to salary arbitration with Detroit. Hudler signed a two-year, $10 million contract with Dynamo in July.

The IIHF must authorize international transfers and requires documents signed by the player and the two national federations — USA Hockey and Russia’s IHFR — representing the clubs.

It ruled that USA Hockey, which refused to sign off on Hudler’s transfer, “did not submit its appeal brief and evidence within the formal deadlines provided by the IIHF.”

USA Hockey has seven days to appeal the decision.

The IIHF said in a statement it also found flaws in Hudler’s arbitration filing.

“The NHL salary arbitration filing notice was only signed by the agent and no sufficient evidence was submitted to the IIHF in order to ensure that the filing was done with the consent of the player,” the statement said.

The governing body has been caught between the two hockey power blocs since the Russian federation opted out of an international transfer agreement several years ago.

The dispute escalated when the Kremlin-backed KHL launched last year and its clubs began targeting players under contract with NHL franchises.

Tensions increased when Nashville Predators forward Alex Radulov walked out on his contract to sign a three-year deal with KHL team Salavat Yulayev Ufa in July 2008.

Although the IIHF ruled that Radulov was at fault, it said it had no legal basis to suspend him because Russia had not signed an international accord.

Radulov went on to play a starring role in Russia’s victory at the IIHF world championships played in Switzerland in May.