Russians Withholding Players From NHL

Stanislav Chistov, the Mighty Ducks’ first-round draft pick in June, and Alexander Svitov, Tampa Bay’s top draft pick, have become players in an international hockey game being contested off the ice in Russia.

Chistov, Svitov and Kiril Kostov, all top players for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League, were removed from their hotel by Moscow militia and detained at the Moscow garrison military base Wednesday, according to reports from Russia. That was the latest twist in Tom Clancy novel-like events involving Svitov and Chistov, who were the third and fifth players taken overall in the NHL draft last June.

Shortly after the draft, they were ordered to return to Russia by Omsk officials or be considered AWOL from the Russian military.

Chistov was in Anaheim having an injured knee examined and Svitov had signed with Tampa Bay. Under International Ice Hockey Federation rules, compulsory military service is the only thing that supersedes a NHL contract.

Tampa Bay officials and agent Jay Grossman, who represented both players, have been skeptical about Svitov’s being in the army, even more so after Svitov and Chistov returned to the Omsk team rather than CSKA Moscow, the former Red Army team.

Now those two players, plus Kostov, who is considered a top prospect, are likely to play for CSKA.

“Omsk thought they were keeping players and now they have lost out,” Pierre Gauthier, Duck general manager, said. “It’s all about money and about transfer fees. It’s all about other favors too. The system is funny over there. There are things this country would consider illegal going on.”

Tampa Bay officials remain concerned.

“This continues to be a web of intrigue,” Jay Feaster, Lightning assistant general manager, said. “It’s like a spy novel.”

After ignoring two requests for verification of the players’ status, the Russian Hockey Federation produced a document showing that Svitov had taken the oath for the Army in December 2000, Feaster said. He must serve two years.

Meanwhile, Anatoly Bardin, president of Omsk, has taken a Cold War stance. He was quoted in the Russian press as saying that he won the battle with an NHL team and saved another talented player for Russia, according to NHL scouts there. When Svitov showed up in an Omsk uniform this month, Bardin said Tampa Bay had given Svitov permission to play, which Feaster denies.

“I don’t think there has been any positive interaction between Omsk and Tampa [or] Anaheim,” Grossman said. “I don’t believe this is a valid situation, and the NHL has expressed some concern.

“I would say [the players] were put into the military on false pretenses. Svitov never served a day in the military until Omsk learned he had signed a contract. The primary purpose was to circumvent the IIHF.”

NHL officials have looked into the matter. Under its agreement with the IIHF, which represents European teams, each NHL team contributes to a pool used to pay transfer fees when a European player is signed.

The Ducks brought Chistov to Anaheim to rehabilitate a minor knee injury, but he was told to return to Russia in July and was immediately sent to a military boot camp.

Chistov, 18, was not expected to sign with the Ducks for at least one year. “As long as he plays and develops, we don’t care who he plays for,” Gauthier said.

But the incident worried Tampa Bay officials, who were expecting the 19-year-old Svitov to play this season. They did not announce his signing in July. “What happened to these players is the equivalent to having the military police knock at your door and haul you away,” Feaster said.

Omsk reached the championship final of the Russian Super League for the first time in its 50-year history last season. Five of the team’s players were drafted, four among the first 41, in the June NHL draft.

Besides Svitov and Chistov, Alexander Perezhogin was picked 25th overall by Montreal and Andrei Tartukhin was taken 41st by Calgary. Igor Shastin was taken in the fourth round by Calgary.

None was believed to be in the Army at that time. “Well, over there, you are either in the army or excused from the army,” Gauthier said. “If you’re not playing for an army team, then you are not in the army.”

That Svitov, Chistov and Kostov appear to be headed for an army team now has not gone over big in Russia, or at least in Omsk. Bardin said Thursday: “We are witnessing the old Soviet hockey system. This could be the end of Russian hockey.”

Meanwhile, Viktor Tikhonov, the legendary Red Army coach who still coaches CSKA, denied any involvement with the players’ being taken from Omsk. He did add, however, “I would like to have them on my team.”

That Svitov appears to be with CSKA may actually help Tampa Bay officials, who now may be able to work out a deal to get him excused from the military.

“I don’t think anyone on this side of the ocean has a desire to negotiate with the Omsk president,” Grossman said. “I don’t think NHL teams like paying millions to various [European] federations, only to have a guy find a loophole.”