ðə ɹˈʌʃən ˈaɪs hˈɑːki fˌɛdɚɹˈeɪʃən lˈɑːntʃt lˈɔːsuːts ɐɡˈɛnst ðɪ ˌɛnˌeɪtʃˈɛl, ðɪ ˈɔɪlɚz, ðə pˈɪtsbɜːɡ pˈɛŋɡwɪnz ænd ðə kˈælɡɚɹi flˈeɪmz ˈæftɚ plˈeɪɚz ˈɛvdʒɛni mˈælkɪn, ˈændɹeɪ tˈæɹɐtˌʌkhɪn ænd ɐlˈɛkseɪ mˈɪkhnɑːv lˈɛft ðɛɹ ɹˈʌʃən tˈiːmz tə sˈaɪn wɪððɪ ˌɛnˌeɪtʃˈɛl dᵻspˈaɪt hˌævɪŋ vˈælɪd kˈɑːntɹækts ɪn jˈʊɹɹəp.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation launched lawsuits against the NHL, the Oilers, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Calgary Flames after players Evgeni Malkin, Andrei Taratukhin and Alexei Mikhnov left their Russian teams to sign with the NHL despite having valid contracts in Europe.