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NHL, KHL fail to reach transfer agreement

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Players looking for a smooth transition from the KHL to the NHL will have to wait.

The two leagues have failed to reach an expanded transfer agreement, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:

Essentially, the NHL and KHL are vowing to continue respecting each others’ contracts. An expanded transfer agreement would have allowed players with KHL deals to jump to North America in exchange for a transfer fee - just as Swedes, Finns and others are currently able to do.

"Ultimately, the KHL wasn’t interested in a player transfer agreement," said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

KHL president Dmitry Chernyshenko, however, expressed a bit more optimism.

"Over the last few years a number of issues have arisen concerning relations between the KHL and NHL, and we have yet to find a compromise which is fully satisfactory for our league," Chernyshenko said in a statement. "We will continue to work toward this goal and strive to reach a far better level of co-operation with our friends across the Atlantic."

Seventeen Russian players were selected at the 2015 NHL Draft, and this development leaves their ability to jump to the NHL with ease in doubt.

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