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Complicated tussle leaves Svitov waiting in Russia

Lightning trying to clarify status of its top draft pick, who is said to be serving in his country's military.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 22, 2001

HOUSTON -- Alexander Svitov, the Lightning's first-round pick in the June draft, is serving in the Russian military at a post in his Siberian home of Omsk.

Tampa Bay and the NHL want to know if the No. 3 overall pick is there legitimately or as part of a plan to keep him from playing in the NHL.

It is a story that, as Lightning assistant general manager Jay Feaster told it Friday, centers on the actions of officials of Avangard Omsk, the team for which Svitov played, and involves the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the Russian Hockey Federation and the NHL legal office.

Feaster said the Lightning has obtained legal counsel in Russia to explore whether Svitov, 18, was inducted into the military in December 2000, as Omsk officials and the Russian Federation claim, or if the documentation that allegedly proves the claim is a sham.

If it is legitimate, the Lightning might not see its prize draft pick, the No. 2 European prospect, until at least December 2002, when his two-year obligation expires.

"It can make a novel," said Bill Daly, the NHL's executive vice president and chief legal officer.

The bizarre story began July 14 when the Lightning signed Svitov, a gritty 6-foot-3, 200-pound center, to a three-year, $3.6-million contract. That was one day before the deadline to sign European prospects without paying, as per the IIHF's player-transfer agreement with the NHL, a $100,000 penalty to the player's team.

That scenario, confirmed by Daly, is contrary to what the team said in July, which was that the sides could not get together on compensation and that Svitov would play in Russia.

Feaster said the contract was not announced because of concerns expressed by Svitov's agent, Jay Grossman.

"Grossman expressed concerns that if we announced it, as we normally would with any signing, he expressed concern of reprisals against the player and his family in Omsk by the people who run the team," Feaster said.

Grossman said the reprisals included putting Svitov in the military. That is a powerful card to play. Daly said that under the rules of the IIHF's agreement with the NHL, the only thing that trumps a signed NHL contract for European players is a "binding military obligation."

Grossman, who praised the Lightning's efforts on his client's behalf, said a nervous Svitov never made the trip to the United States embassy in Moscow to get his visa.

"The fact of the matter is the player did not want to be a deserter because then he could not return to his country for (many) years," Grossman said. "At the same time, to us and I think to the NHL and the Lightning, it's a clear case of an attempt to circumvent the IIHF transfer agreement."

When Svitov did not show up in Tampa, the Lightning asked the NHL and IIHF to get some answers.

Daly said the IIHF asked the Russian Federation multiple times to provide documentation Svitov had a military obligation. When those requests were not answered, Daly said the IIHF ruled Svitov was ineligible to play for Omsk and free to play in the NHL.

Feaster said that ruling, as well as what he thinks is a cozy relationship between the team and local military officials, landed Svitov in the service.

"When Omsk got the letter, they took Svitov out of the locker room, took him into the team president's office," Feaster said. "The team president began waving this letter and berating him. By that time there's a knock at the door. Military police are there. They take Svitov and forcibly remove him to an army post. He's in the military, where he is still today."

Feaster said by then it was "a month and a half" since the first request for military documentation was made, and that was when the documentation finally arrived.

"They sent a photocopy of what they call a military card," Feaster said, "and then another photocopy of another document that is signed and witnessed that said, 'Please be advised the player, Alexander Svitov, has been assigned to this Russian military unit and was inducted into the military in December 2000."

Feaster has doubts. Grossman said Svitov was in Avangard Omsk's training camp in August, and Grossman's understanding is that Russian soldiers must play for military teams. Avangard Omsk is a private club.

"That's something I'm trying to find out," Daly said. "Certainly that is Jay Grossman's contention and it's logical. But I also heard from the IIHF that in different countries you have different rules. Sometimes you have compulsory military service and they may lend you to a private team."

Daly said at this point, "on the face of the documents we have, (Svitov) has a military obligation."

That does not mean the NHL is satisfied.

"The military obligation has never been used before," Daly said, "and I can tell you that we're concerned and we're going to look into whether it's being abused. If this is a sham and a way around the IIHF agreement, I don't think it's fair."

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