Toooooo Baaad Hudler.... Can you say Awkward?

The NHL is contesting Jiri Hudler's contract with Moscow Dynamo of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, believing he is contractually obligated to the Red Wings. The NHL has approached both International Ice Hockey Federation, seeking its intervention.

Because Hudler filed for arbitration on Sunday, the NHL believes he is obligated to remain in the league next season, nullifying the two-year, $10 million deal he signed with Dynamo.

NHL spokesman Frank Brown said in a statement: "We believe that Mr. Hudler remains contractually obligated to the Detroit Red Wings.''

In an e-mail, IIHF communications director Szymon Szemberg said: "The IIHF has been informed by the NHL about the Jiri Hudler case. Upon this, the IIHF has informed the Russian Ice Hockey Federation about the NHL's position and the case is under investigation. As this is a transfer to an IIHF member league the player will be needing an International Transfer Card (ITC), approved by the IIHF, to complete the transfer. Only upon the IIHF's signing the ITC, the transfer would be finalized and approved.''

According to Szemberg, a fully approved ITC is signed by:
a) the player
b) the new IIHF member national association (in this case Russia)
c) the old IIHF member national association (USA Hockey)

When all those signatures are in place the IIHF puts a stamp on the ITC as final approval.

"During the process, USA Hockey would ask the NHL whether they approve the transfer,'' Szemberg said. "If the NHL says no, USA Hockey will most probably not sign and the ITC would be incomplete -- no IIHF approval.''

He added: "If the KHL, through the Russian federation, disputes the NHL's/USA Hockey's refusal to sign, they can take the case to the IIHF and ask the IIHF to intervenve. An investigation would follow.''