Dumb question, but what’s the reasoning behind why the contract isn’t terminated for the Isles…or for any team when a player decides to sign in an entirely different league and gets paid to play there? Obviously there’s some loophole they don’t want teams exploiting, but I guess I’m not seeing the smoke and mirrors here that exists with other circumvention tricks.

It seems like a different situation to me than using an LTIR trick or burying contracts in the minors or other creative exploits they’ve had to address over the years. Here, the team in the other league has to want the player, and the player has to want to leave the NHL to play there. It doesn’t seem like the power is completely in the hands of the NHL team. But, I’m sure I’m missing something obvious…
- UIF

He's technically been "loaned" to whatever team he's playing with in the KHL, I believe. Same way Ho Sang was loaned to the Swedish teams he played with and Bode Wilde is currently on loan to one of the Swedish minor leagues. Kravstov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk by the Rangers, too.

It's just the team giving the player permission to go play outside their system.

Speculation: As much as Leo is not quite a fan favorite, he's capable of playing bottom-six NHL minutes and seems to be well-liked by his teammates. The Islanders probably don't want to lose him and would like to keep him as an option if they face a slew of injuries or to have for a potential playoff roster. If they mutually agree to terminate the contract, they'd have to go shopping elsewhere and spend assets to get a player in the event they need one. I think this is just Lou doing a good solider a favor and not forcing him to ride the bus in the AHL and maybe even make some extra money on the side. If they need him, he's only a 972hr plane ride away.

He's technically been "loaned" to whatever team he's playing with in the KHL, I believe. Same way Ho Sang was loaned to the Swedish teams he played with and Bode Wilde is currently on loan to one of the Swedish minor leagues. Kravstov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk by the Rangers, too.

It's just the team giving the player permission to go play outside their system.

Speculation: As much as Leo is not quite a fan favorite, he's capable of playing bottom-six NHL minutes and seems to be well-liked by his teammates. The Islanders probably don't want to lose him and would like to keep him as an option if they face a slew of injuries or to have for a potential playoff roster. If they mutually agree to terminate the contract, they'd have to go shopping elsewhere and spend assets to get a player in the event they need one. I think this is just Lou doing a good solider a favor and not forcing him to ride the bus in the AHL and maybe even make some extra money on the side. If they need him, he's only a 972hr plane ride away.
- eichiefs9

Unless it's the playoffs.. then he can play on the top line.

He's technically been "loaned" to whatever team he's playing with in the KHL, I believe. Same way Ho Sang was loaned to the Swedish teams he played with and Bode Wilde is currently on loan to one of the Swedish minor leagues. Kravstov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk by the Rangers, too.

It's just the team giving the player permission to go play outside their system.

Speculation: As much as Leo is not quite a fan favorite, he's capable of playing bottom-six NHL minutes and seems to be well-liked by his teammates. The Islanders probably don't want to lose him and would like to keep him as an option if they face a slew of injuries or to have for a potential playoff roster. If they mutually agree to terminate the contract, they'd have to go shopping elsewhere and spend assets to get a player in the event they need one. I think this is just Lou doing a good solider a favor and not forcing him to ride the bus in the AHL and maybe even make some extra money on the side. If they need him, he's only a 972hr plane ride away.
- eichiefs9

(just to annoy people)

He's technically been "loaned" to whatever team he's playing with in the KHL, I believe. Same way Ho Sang was loaned to the Swedish teams he played with and Bode Wilde is currently on loan to one of the Swedish minor leagues. Kravstov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk by the Rangers, too.

It's just the team giving the player permission to go play outside their system.

Speculation: As much as Leo is not quite a fan favorite, he's capable of playing bottom-six NHL minutes and seems to be well-liked by his teammates. The Islanders probably don't want to lose him and would like to keep him as an option if they face a slew of injuries or to have for a potential playoff roster. If they mutually agree to terminate the contract, they'd have to go shopping elsewhere and spend assets to get a player in the event they need one. I think this is just Lou doing a good solider a favor and not forcing him to ride the bus in the AHL and maybe even make some extra money on the side. If they need him, he's only a 972hr plane ride away.
- eichiefs9

It sounds like that is where this is heading. I hope that is true b/c that would give us a LOT of cap room to make some moves to add a player to take the place of a 7 foot tall traffic cone.

He's technically been "loaned" to whatever team he's playing with in the KHL, I believe. Same way Ho Sang was loaned to the Swedish teams he played with and Bode Wilde is currently on loan to one of the Swedish minor leagues. Kravstov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk by the Rangers, too.

It's just the team giving the player permission to go play outside their system.

Speculation: As much as Leo is not quite a fan favorite, he's capable of playing bottom-six NHL minutes and seems to be well-liked by his teammates. The Islanders probably don't want to lose him and would like to keep him as an option if they face a slew of injuries or to have for a potential playoff roster. If they mutually agree to terminate the contract, they'd have to go shopping elsewhere and spend assets to get a player in the event they need one. I think this is just Lou doing a good solider a favor and not forcing him to ride the bus in the AHL and maybe even make some extra money on the side. If they need him, he's only a 972hr plane ride away.
- eichiefs9

Gotcha. But, even if the player is never coming back, does it still count as a "loan"?

That makes sense in the Wilde/Ho Sang situation where the team still has some interest in the player. Doesn't make as much sense to me in the Kravstov situation where it seems like the bridge between the team and player is completely burned. At that point, if both want to go their separate ways, I don't think that should be against the rules or that the Rangers should still be on the hook for the contract/cap hit.

Your speculation makes sense, too...I could see the Isles basically doing Komarov a bit of a favor but also leaving themselves the option to call him back if needed. In that case, a loan is the way to go rather than terminating the contract.

Gotcha. But, even if the player is never coming back, does it still count as a "loan"?

That makes sense in the Wilde/Ho Sang situation where the team still has some interest in the player. Doesn't make as much sense to me in the Kravstov situation where it seems like the bridge between the team and player is completely burned. At that point, if both want to go their separate ways, I don't think that should be against the rules or that the Rangers should still be on the hook for the contract/cap hit.

Your speculation makes sense, too...I could see the Isles basically doing Komarov a bit of a favor but also leaving themselves the option to call him back if needed. In that case, a loan is the way to go rather than terminating the contract.
- UIF

I'm honestly not sure if there is a term limit on a team loaning a player.

I'm not even 100% positive that they loaned him to Russia, but if they haven't mutually agreed to terminate the rest of his contract then I have imagine it's a loan.

Gotcha. But, even if the player is never coming back, does it still count as a "loan"?

That makes sense in the Wilde/Ho Sang situation where the team still has some interest in the player. Doesn't make as much sense to me in the Kravstov situation where it seems like the bridge between the team and player is completely burned. At that point, if both want to go their separate ways, I don't think that should be against the rules or that the Rangers should still be on the hook for the contract/cap hit.

Your speculation makes sense, too...I could see the Isles basically doing Komarov a bit of a favor but also leaving themselves the option to call him back if needed. In that case, a loan is the way to go rather than terminating the contract.
- UIF

Rangers are essentially keeping his rights until someone gives them something they feel is worth them moving him.

Rangers are essentially keeping his rights until someone gives them something they feel is worth them moving him.
- niteislander

OK, so it's their choice, then?

I guess my point is…I look at something like the Ladd situation last season. The Isles made it clear Ladd wasn’t going to play for them at the NHL level anymore, and Ladd chose to just report to wherever the team sent him so he could continue collecting his check. That’s the way it should go to keep the contract/cap hit on the books.

But let’s say last season Ladd said, "Screw this" and instead chose to sign with a team in an entirely different league where he got paid to play there under a separate contract. Would the team still have been on the hook for both the contract and the cap hit? I don't think they should, as it's the player’s choice to leave.

He's technically been "loaned" to whatever team he's playing with in the KHL, I believe. Same way Ho Sang was loaned to the Swedish teams he played with and Bode Wilde is currently on loan to one of the Swedish minor leagues. Kravstov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk by the Rangers, too.

It's just the team giving the player permission to go play outside their system.

Speculation: As much as Leo is not quite a fan favorite, he's capable of playing bottom-six NHL minutes and seems to be well-liked by his teammates. The Islanders probably don't want to lose him and would like to keep him as an option if they face a slew of injuries or to have for a potential playoff roster. If they mutually agree to terminate the contract, they'd have to go shopping elsewhere and spend assets to get a player in the event they need one. I think this is just Lou doing a good solider a favor and not forcing him to ride the bus in the AHL and maybe even make some extra money on the side. If they need him, he's only a 972hr plane ride away.
- eichiefs9

Or they mutually terminate the contract and set him free and have a ton more cap space. We will know at 2pm if he's on unconditional waivers

OK, so it's their choice, then?

I guess my point is…I look at something like the Ladd situation last season. The Isles made it clear Ladd wasn’t going to play for them at the NHL level anymore, and Ladd chose to just report to wherever the team sent him so he could continue collecting his check. That’s the way it should go to keep the contract/cap hit on the books.

But let’s say last season Ladd said, "Screw this" and instead chose to sign with a team in an entirely different league where he got paid to play there under a separate contract. Would the team still have been on the hook for both the contract and the cap hit? I don't think they should, as it's the player’s choice to leave.
- UIF

The NHL has transfer agreements with all the major Euro leagues, except for the KHL. That's why teams are at the mercy of player's contract situations in Russia (the reason we waited so long for Sorokin)...because there's nothing they can do unless the player's Russian club gives them the go-ahead to leave for North America.

As far as the transfer agreements, I know that Euro teams gets some sort of monetary compensation from NHL teams if a players leaves to come over...but I'm not so sure what the reverse of that is. I would imagine that a player under contract in the NHL would not be able to leave if he's under a current contract and that it's written that way in the transfer agreement.

The NHL has transfer agreements with all the major Euro leagues, except for the KHL. That's why teams are at the mercy of player's contract situations in Russia (the reason we waited so long for Sorokin)...because there's nothing they can do unless the player's Russian club gives them the go-ahead to leave for North America.

As far as the transfer agreements, I know that Euro teams gets some sort of monetary compensation from NHL teams if a players leaves to come over...but I'm not so sure what the reverse of that is. I would imagine that a player under contract in the NHL would not be able to leave if he's under a current contract and that it's written that way in the transfer agreement.
- eichiefs9

OK. So, basically, it doesn't void the contract if the player goes to another league (possibly murkier if that league is the KHL) because it'll always count as a loan due to the transfer agreements...is that about right?

It looks like I crashed all of HockeyBuzz for a while by asking my question, so I apologize for that.

Are you still an Oilers fan or not? We missed a bet opportunity.
- JRR1285

Kinda? I still follow them a little, but most of my emotional investment is gone.

That being said, I’m still all for game day bets. 👍

OK. So, basically, it doesn't void the contract if the player goes to another league (possibly murkier if that league is the KHL) because it'll always count as a loan due to the transfer agreements...is that about right?

It looks like I crashed all of HockeyBuzz for a while by asking my question, so I apologize for that.
- UIF

This site has almost become unusable

OK. So, basically, it doesn't void the contract if the player goes to another league (possibly murkier if that league is the KHL) because it'll always count as a loan due to the transfer agreements...is that about right?

It looks like I crashed all of HockeyBuzz for a while by asking my question, so I apologize for that.
- UIF

I'm sure there's some caveat I'm missing, but if a player who is currently under an NHL contract goes and plays in another league than the team he's under contract with has to have given him permission and "loan" him...as far as I'm aware.

This was as of about a year and a half ago, good list of who the NHL has transfer agreements in place with. Also has ramifications on how quickly draft picks from those countries can make the jump to North America.



And I guess the transfer agreements are more with countries who are a part of the IIHF, not specific leagues. Russia is the obvious omission.

Wait, the same first LW that was solely responsible for leading us to the conference finals last spring? That guy!? Ffuuuucck nnooooo!!!!
- streaks

Fire Barry Can Lou!

I'm sure there's some caveat I'm missing, but if a player who is currently under an NHL contract goes and plays in another league than the team he's under contract with has to have given him permission and "loan" him...as far as I'm aware.

This was as of about a year and a half ago, good list of who the NHL has transfer agreements in place with. Also has ramifications on how quickly draft picks from those countries can make the jump to North America.



And I guess the transfer agreements are more with countries who are a part of the IIHF, not specific leagues. Russia is the obvious omission.
- eichiefs9

It's either a loan or a mutual contract termination and in that case all salary is null and cap space is available

Idc what happens with Leo as long as they replace Chara

It's either a loan or a mutual contract termination and in that case all salary is null and cap space is available
- Upstate_isles

Well it's after 2pm and we still haven't heard if Leo is on unconditional waivers so I'm starting to lean towards a loan

Well it's after 2pm and we still haven't heard if Leo is on unconditional waivers so I'm starting to lean towards a loan
- eichiefs9

Yup but at least hes not in the ice anymore for the foreseeable future. Still like to see an upgrade for chara

Well it's after 2pm and we still haven't heard if Leo is on unconditional waivers so I'm starting to lean towards a loan
- eichiefs9

It sounds to me like it's just a way to keep Leo in shape without wasting a spot in Bridgeport for when Lee goes down again.

It sounds to me like it's just a way to keep Leo in shape without wasting a spot in Bridgeport for when Lee goes down again.
- JohnScammo

There is a veteran limit for AHL lineups every game and I'm sure all of this stuff factored into Leo heading overseas.

There is a veteran limit for AHL lineups every game and I'm sure all of this stuff factored into Leo heading overseas.
- eichiefs9

- JohnScammo

It sounds to me like it's just a way to keep Leo in shape without wasting a spot in Bridgeport for when Lee goes down again.
- JohnScammo

- nyisles7

I miss him already.