Saturday, November 15, 2008

Cherepanov News

The KHL has finished it's primarily findings from the tragic death of Alexei Cherepanov who collapsed during a game last month. This is what I find interesting:

''They acted professionally and did everything they could. The absence of special medical equipment in the arena was not the cause of death of this hockey player,'' said Shalaev. ''This does not mean, however, that the charges pending will be dismissed nor does it mean that there will be no disciplinary action against these individuals. The KHL acted appropriately and within its bounds in imposing sanctions against the Vityaz club director and other officials involved in this tragic accident.''
What if there was a defibrillator was the arena? Cherepanov would of had a better chance of surviving. I think the KHL is trying to push the blame away from themselves for not having the proper equipment in place.

The New York Rangers are looking for a compensary draft pick because Cherepanov would of been eligible for the draft this year, if he didn't up signing with New York.

"The question is with the one parenthetical phrase in Article 8.3 (b) that refers compensation for an unsigned first-round draft pick who is '… again eligible for the Entry Draft or becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent,'" Rangers assistant general manager Cam Hope told the newspaper. "That language was inserted to clarify that a team would be owed a compensatory pick even if they were to re-draft that player or sign him as a free agent.

"It seems now as if that phrase is unintentionally precluding the deceased from being included as eligible for compensation. We understand that this is a sensitive issue, but with all due respect to Alexei's family and his memory, he is technically eligible to be drafted again next year."


I don't about this. The casual person would look at this and say the Rangers are trying to capitalize on Alexei's death. At the same time, the Front Office has done their job understanding the Collective Bargining Agreement.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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