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NHL rejects Vladimir Tkachev's standard player contract

Chris LaFrance / USA TODAY Sports

The Edmonton Oilers agreed to a three-year, entry-level pact with forward Vladimir Tkachev on Tuesday, but it appears that deal has hit a snag:

A 'standard player contract' or SPC sounds technical and confusing, but it's really the sole form of employment contract that's relevant to consider when talking about NHL deals. 

It's not that uncommon for an entry-level contract to be rejected by the league. It happened last season with the Vancouver Canucks and prospect Cole Cassels, whose first attempt at a contract was rejected by the league due to an unattainable games-played bonus. The club and Cassels tried again, and a second contract was given league assent and registered officially shortly thereafter.

In Tkachev's case, it might be more complicated. Because he played games in Europe last season, he's reportedly still eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. So basically he's ineligible to sign an SPC. 

The whole thing is very Oilers. 

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