The relationship between the NHL and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) was reportedly terminated by the NHL on Monday amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The move comes just over a week after the NHL condemned Russia's invasion in a statement, suspending its relationships with Russian business partners and pausing NHL digital and social media sites.
“We will have only limited contractual information regarding players who are currently or last played in the KHL,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said on Monday, per the Associated Press.
The main fallout from the termination of the relationship will be an indefinite halt to communication between the two leagues. They will not exchange data on players under contract, update player contract databases, exchange free agent lists, or settle contract disputes. The NHL will, however, be honoring existing player contracts.
Several former NHL players already cancelled their KHL contracts of their own volition, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Fallout for NHL players and prospects
This could have wide-ranging effects for Russian NHL players. Teams cannot sign KHL-rostered players without negotiating with the Russian Central Registry about player status.
Another, murkier issue is in the NHL Draft. There is a chance Russian-born players may be denied status to play in the NHL. The biggest player this could impact is current KHL forward Danila Yurov. The 18-year-old winger was projected to be a top-15 pick in the 2022 draft, but his status is now tossed into question.
In a sport as international as hockey, this end of communication could have a wide-ranging effect on the way teams handle operations. The Russian Five of the Detroit Red Wings, for example, had three players whose defections from the then Soviet Union were aided by the Wings.
Pittsburgh Penguins living legend Evgeni Malkin also facilitated his own exit from his former KHL club when he was drafted by the Penguins second overall in 2004, making his debut in the NHL in 2006.
