The Puck Stops Here

Because of the lack of a transfer agreement between Russia and the NHL, there is contreversy regarding several Russian players who left Russian contracts this summer to come to North America. There were some very unusual defections and other legal ploys used to get Russian players to the NHL. The player who had the most uneventful trip out of Russia this summer was Alexei Kaigorodov of the Ottawa Senators. There was an agreement between Ottawa and Metallurg Magnitogorsk that if Kaigorodov didn't make the NHL team he would go back to Russia. After six games with limited ice time, Ottawa sent Kaigorodov to the minors. Today, it is announced they are suspending him for refusing that assignment and planning to return to Russia instead. Wasn't that the agreement from day one? Isn't Ottawa in the wrong for suspending a player for upholding an agreement they made? Or was the plan that the Senators would doublecross the Russians and they are angry that Kaigorodov is too honest to be involved in this doublecross?

Here is the TSN story on the suspension by the Senators.