NHL, new Russian league reach peace deal on contracts

With demand for players likely to drive up salaries, the NHLPA sees the Russian newcomer as a positive development.

"It gives some of our guys another place to play," Kelly said. "It gives them some leverage they might not otherwise have which is to present to their NHL teams that they have a competing offer from a KHL team and maybe improve their bargaining position.

"And if a young Russian player wants to come and play in the NHL he should have the freedom to do so."

Kelly said he was having his first meeting with Medvedev, deputy chairman of the world's biggest natural gas supplier Gazprom.

"Alex is obviously a passionate hockey guy. He has some very firm nationalist ideas and that is also a good thing," Kelly said.

Medvedev left the Zurich meetings early but is expected at the Sept. 4 meeting in New York.

"We have an aggressive agenda," Kelly said. "It is time for us to tackle these difficult issues. Today was a real good first step."

The working group hopes to create a new international transfer agreement to replace one which lapsed last month after six European leagues backed out. Russia withdrew three years ago.

The European nations -- Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland -- want an increase in the $200,000 compensation fee they get when an out-of-contract player leaves for an NHL franchise.

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