After refusing to sign contracts with CSKA of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, restricted free agents Sergei Shirokov and Denis Parshin have been suspended by the league for a year. In what would be a reflection of moves such as Jiri Hudler's, will they now come across to North America? This comes from Sport Express:

"Decision of Disciplinary Committee came as a surprise for me", said Sergey Shirokov. "As for my next steps I am not going to think for a long time because I need to decide where I will continue my career".

"If I am not exchanged from CSKA to another club until August 10, I will sign a contract with Vancouver Canucs.[sic] So far as I know my suspension won’t affect my career in NHL".

Is this Atlantic pond-hopping going to become a commonplace method of avoiding conflicts between players and their respective teams? Who knows, but what does remain is the fact that the NHL and KHL need to hammer out a more thorough agreement on player transfers to avoid the confusing mess that has surrounded certain players for more than a year now.