Unless he's got a few hundred thousand sitting around, he can't defect until his contract is up.

Ovi would probably personally pay for him.

I don't think that's allowed, I think the player has to be the one to buyout the contract.

If Michkov is to defect... I don't think it would be to join one of Putin's friend (Ovechkin)... It would probably be a sweatheart deal to let them play together before Ovi retires.

Probably isn't, but I think the NHL team that drafts him can, but I could be wrong.

No, NHL teams aren't allowed to either. I'll link you a thread that explains it a little bit more. It also has to be a mutual buyout, so the KHL club also has to agree to it.

https://twitter.com/MtlfanSakic/status/1656063701776990210

I'm curious to see at what lengths the NHL/KHL can even investigate this. Like, you are telling me a someone can't simply write a cheque to Michkov for X dollars for "Hockey consulting", pay taxes on it and then use the rest to buyout his contract? If it meant getting Michkov here next year, I think a team could very easily pay that 500K through back channels that can't be traced back to them and it be totally legit.

Frankly, I guarantee Michkov could probably just get a loan from a US bank to pay off his contract if he really wanted to.

The truth of the matter is Michkov probably doesn't want to leave Russia until his contract is done for a myriad of reasons.

So his options are pull a Malkin or get Ovi to call in a favor.

Who knows if there's any truth to it but there was a rumor that his father's death was linked to his hockey career, so he might not feel like he has a choice.

Few hours later a plane lands in Reagan only containing men named "Alexander" and "Ivan" that all happen to own the same brand of suticase