Most of the time, at this time of the season when numerous players from Europe sign contracts with NHL clubs, outside of that specific NHL team’s fan base the majority of these signings create minimal noise around the league. This week however, one signing has caught my attention and that is of Russian defenseman Alexei Yemelin signing with Montreal.

The six-foot-two 223-pound blue-liner was drafted in the third round, 84th overall by Montreal in 2004. Possesses good size, was drafted by Montreal – so nothing unusual there. The unusual aspect of all this for me is in the deal he has signed. There are reports he has a written agreement to return to the KHL if he doesn’t make the NHL team and thereby his contract allows him to avoid ‘banishment’ to the AHL. This kind of clause seems to be a new aspect with regards to contracts and if it is not new it’s seems new to the public eye. Maybe it’s just something that agents don’t want the public to know about?

Anyway, long or short term this kind of clause may become relevant to the Rangers and the rest of the league in regard to European players. The Rangers have recently had several failed attempts in signing Europeans – think of the Finnish player Heikkenen or the Swiss, Ambuhl – and have struggled to retain other Europeans in North America, namely people like the talented Russian Ivan Baranka. Now, would this new(?) clause in the contract change any of the scenarios the Rangers encountered with these players? Maybe not but on the other hand including this kind of clause could perhaps entice otherwise reluctant Europeans to come over, at least to attend training camps with a contract in their pockets.

The Rangers still own the rights to other talented Euro’s like David Skokan who enjoyed some success in Canadian Juniors with Rimouski but who then bolted back to Europe at the first hint of a lack of progress. It will be interesting to see whether the Rangers continue to pursue European free agents and whether they also include a clause like the Canadiens did. I admit to not knowing a huge deal about contractual goings on, or the real reasons why players such as Baranka or Skokan leave to return home. I also only see the same media reports as every other fan as to how Europeans players such as Heikkenen comment on ‘failed promises’ and ‘poor treatment’ by their NHL clubs. All I know is this; a relatively minor signing such as Yemelin’s may one day become a reference point to the NHL’s frequent dealings with European hockey players. Stranger things have happened.

 

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