It didn't get much media coverage but the agreement between the NHL and IIHF on player exchanges has expired which means the free market reigns.
What does it all mean? Some aren't too concerned but gradually the Russian Super League has been signing NHL calibre players. The number of Russians in the NHL has dropped off considerably. You are going to now see individual owners in the Russian Super League aggressively protective of their young stars, using a fists full of cash.
The old agreement had NHL teams pay just $200,000 for each departed player. Any player worth a $200,000 transfer fee to an NHL team is probably worth that or more to his home club. So if NHL owners want these players, they’ll have to offer either huge salaries, or richer buyouts to the clubs. But the NHL collective agreement limits the amount a team can pay for an entry level player.
I believe this fear will play itself out at the Amateur Draft this weekend. Russian power forward, Kirill Petrov has the potential to be as good as Steven Stamkos and has to be a top-5 pick by talent alone. But he might not go until late in the first Round because of concerns about signing him.
If the Maple Leafs are looking for a franchise player this might be the guy. They could draft him with their 7th pick or pick up lower first rounder in a trade to use to draft Petrov. Then just buy his way out of Russia just like what the Red Sox did to get Daisuke Matsuzaka. It's not like the Leafs don't have the cash.
