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| Anatoly Bardin: Dialog with Ted Saskin was very constructive |
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Anatoly Bardin, the head of IRHPU
Photo: www.rusph.com
Author: Marat Safin (Sport-Express)
Translated by Alexei Belousenko of Russian Hockey Digest (RusHockey.com)
Anatoly Bardin is the head of IRHPU (Independent Russian Hockey Players Union), which is Russian analog of North American NHLPA. Recently the union had celebrated the first birthday. Also, about a month ago Mr. Bardin came back from North America where he met the executive director of NHLPA Ted Saskin. In his interview with Sport-Express, Anatoly Bardin talks about the situation in Russian hockey, relationships with his colleagues from the NHL, and the union's future plans.
BARDIN TALKS ABOUT HIS TRIP TO NORTH AMERICA
How would you describe your meetings with the NHLPA's head?
A. Bardin: I'm very satisfied with this trip, it was extremely productive. NHLPA's executive management showed an extraordinary interest in this meeting and, what is more important, in future cooperation with our organization, which pleasantly surprised me because I was expecting just a courtesy meeting, nothing more. Besides, I was surprised with their knowledge of recent developments in our hockey. NHLPA's managers asked me many questions about structure and organization of our Super League. Then, they proposed to sit down at a round table in order to discuss our further cooperation. After all, we agreed that we would start with documents exchange, and preparing for cooperation.
How long was your meeting?
A. Bardin: More than two hours. After that we went to a hockey game Toronto ' Montreal. The main topic of our conversation was establishing a partnership of our two organizations, which should be based on helping each other with various juridical questions related to players' trades; for example Ovechkin's case. Besides, NHLPA also is interested in NHL-PHL agreement. And of course, they asked us about our organization.
What did you tell them?
A. Bardin: I told them that new people came to Russian hockey: politicians, businessmen, investors, lawyers. Also, they were interested how willingly Russian players join our union. I told them that most of the players join the union with the exception of several youngsters.
What does NHLPA think of the fact that a hockey player may not be a union's member?
A. Bardin: They were surprised. I told them a little bit about Russian reality, for example such things as sometimes player's insurance exists only on a piece of paper, salaries are not guarantied, etc.
Normally, North Americans show their interests in other countries only for their own benefits. Is this the case?
A. Bardin: Yes, of course, and here is nothing to hide about it. At the moment, objectively speaking, NHL is stronger than us. Therefore, good Russian hockey and good Russian players union are needed for them, especially, from a point of view where they want to bring young players to NHL. They want us to have very good conditions for growing new talents. And, of course, the main question is an agreement between Russia and NHL, which, I'm sure, will be signed by fall and will be favorable for both parties.
OK, now, what did you ask them about?
A. Bardin: I was asking them how North-American union works with players, for instance, how players make their payments to the organization. Also, I was asking about their relationships with different agents and scouting agencies. I even met a few agents.
What were your North American colleagues surprised about the most?
A. Bardin: The fact that players in some teams don't get paid. This is just unacceptable for North Americans. They asked me: 'How could this be?! This is a crime, people go to jail for this!'
What did you talk about at the hockey game?
A. Bardin: I invited Mr. Saskin to the Super League's finals. And he invited me to the NHL playoffs final games. I think both of us will have a chance to visit these matches.
What new did you learn from professional point of view while your trip?
A. Bardin: First of all, hockey players trust their unions one hundred percent. Second, I found out the details of NHLPA and agents relationships. I have understanding how the league can be one united mechanism, where all of the functions of each department clearly defined.
In your opinion, does Super League have any advantages compared to the NHL?
A. Bardin: Human element. In relationships between each other we often treat our partners with an open heart, which doesn't exist in America, and perhaps, never will. Though, this element sometimes interferes with interests too.
Have you talked to any Russian players?
A. Bardin: Of course, I met Alexander Perezhogin, Andrei Markov and talked to Oleg Tverdovsky and Alexander Ovechkin on the phone.
INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN HOCKEY PLAYER'S UNION IS ONE YEAR OLD
What events or achievements would you highlight after the first year of the union's existence?
A. Bardin: There were quite a few, but I'd highlight three important ones.
First is the number of union's members. As of today, there are three hundred members, moreover, every member not just signed in to the union, but paid membership fees. This is a sign that our organization grows and becomes more powerful. Also, players, coaches and other people involved in hockey started really believing in us and stopped treating us with fear, as normally all of innovations are treated with fear in our country.
Second is our little victories in Grabovsky's case, Tortunov's case, Molot partally paying off debts to its players. These are vivid examples of how effective union's assistance can be.
Third, of course, is our business meeting with NHLPA Executive Director Ted Saskin. The cooperation of two organizations from both leagues will play important role in signing the new agreement between Russia and NHL.
It seems that your union will have additional work to do after the season?
A. Bardin: Yes, besides a difficult situation in Molot there is a tough situation with payroll in Dynamo. Recently, all of the players of the club, who are union's members (most of the team actually), submitted a petition to our union asking for assistance in this issue. We had to forward it to Dynamo's management but so far no reaction. Of course, this club is a serious organization, and I think all of the players will receive their money. But if this would not happen, our union has a right to claim to governmental labor commission and office of public prosecutor.
Regarding the situation in Molot, they, as any other problem club, have time until April 30th. Starting May 1st many players' contracts will expire, and all of owed salaries will become the failure of contract liabilities. Then, the players union will start working on this question closely. After this date we will have a right to claim to appropriate agencies.
Before, you raised a question about unlicensed agents in Russian hockey. What have changed in this question during this year?
A. Bardin: This problem is pretty much solved. According to a preliminary PHL (Professional Hockey League) decision, an agent's license will be issued by the players union, and then, agents will be able to work officially. Speaking of agents from overseas, if they would prefer to operate on their own in Russia, than they would get in trouble. Imagine such situation: you and me will go to North America and declare that we are agents of some players, and start making our business illegally. Then, we will go to jail! Thus, why should they get away with it in Russia?!
Nevertheless, our market will remain a fertile field for such agents.
A. Bardin: Sure. Therefore, they would try to establish some alternative union in order to take root in Russian market and create misbalance. But I'm sure that neither hockey league, nor hockey federation will allow them to do it. In America it takes several months to receive the agent's license; they thoroughly check person's background. Don't take me wrong, but I believe that is the only one organization that should be in charge of issuing agents' licenses.
Players who haven't became union's members yet, perhaps, are interested in how membership fees are used.
A. Bardin: Definitely. For those who haven't received an answer yet, I'll explain: membership fees are divided on three parts. The largest part goes to accumulative non-governmental retirement plan and works for player's future. The second part covers insurance expenses. And the last part is for the organization functioning.
What are your organization's near future plans?
A. Bardin: For now, the main task of the players union and PHL is signing of a collective agreement, and also, the beginning of cooperation with the renewed federation. Right now, the necessary and proper reforms are taking place. A well-known diplomat became PHL's head who brought with him a team of young and talented legal and financial experts. The perspective of working with these people looks very promising. No surprise that even the head of IIHF Rene Fasel willingly comes for contact with them. By the way, I'm planning to meet with the head of the PHL Mikhail Margelov, in order to discuss various details of our cooperation. Besides, we plan to hold a meeting during off-season for all of the players that are not our members yet.
Also, we are planning to add another term in the regulations that will oblige the clubs to present a vacation for players not less than two months. This caused by various medical indexes, and all of the coaches and teams' doctors are familiar with them. There is a well-known fact: after a season of intensive work, organism prepares for a rest during the first month, and then, only during the second month it actually gets a rest. And this not allowable to burden not rested person because by the end of a career a player may become disabled.
What kind of future do you see for the players union?
A. Bardin: Good future! We will be working closely with the PHL and FHR for best of our hockey. The only way to elevate our hockey to the highest level is to consolidate our efforts. And I'm glad to realize that no one sees IRHPU (Independent Russian Hockey Players Union) as an opponent any longer. Everyone sees our organization as an instrument that disciplines presidents, players, and agents.
Anatoly Bardin with the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko
Photo: www.rusph.com
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