[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

you have to get him over. or hell never come over. it gets more interesting that he plays for cska moscow (central army)

remember zherdev he jolted his russian team and left for the nhl and then during his contract holdout went back to russia. as a cbj fan you have alexander svitov and his flight to russia.

i do know that technically you need only 2 weeks notice by russian labor laws. and that a few players have broken contracts to go the other way. i dont see the contract being an issue even if he is under contract. id be more worried about him being abducted by the army...

Yeah I remember now, I found this old article:

It is expected that either the Russian Ice Hockey Federation or Zherdev's team, CSKA (the Central Red Army), will claim that the player has yet to complete military service, and will seek his return to Russia. However, according to the transfer agreement between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation, Zherdev was free to join the Blue Jackets in August after he signed a three-year contract and the team paid the $100,000 transfer fee.
According to NHL sources, Zherdev's exit visa was "mislaid," preventing his leaving for the United States in time for the start of the season. Though the NHL has been inquiring as to Zherdev's status since August, proof of the player's military obligation has not been provided and Zherdev has maintained he hasn't taken an oath of duty.
Bill Daly, the NHL's chief legal officer, stated that Zherdev can play with the Blue Jackets until further notice, saying, "At this point we've not been provided with sufficient evidence to establish either A, that he has a compulsory military service obligation, or B, that he's conscripted in the Russian military."

Entire article: ESPN - Fourth overall pick leaves Russia - NHL