The question of who owns Nashville Predators right wing Alexander Radulov (47) may be decided in a court or by independent arbitrator. The question of who owns Nashville Predators right wing Alexander Radulov (47) may be decided in a court or by independent arbitrator. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

A window has opened on a possible resolution to a dispute between the National Hockey League and the new Russian-based Continental Hockey League (KHL) involving player transfers and the contract of Alex Radulov.

The Hockey News and the Canadian Press reported Saturday the KHL, after meeting with the International Ice Hockey Federation, has offered to withdraw disputes over the transfers of five players, including first round NHL picks Nikita Filitov (Columbus) and Viktor Tikhonov (Phoenix).

KHL representatives, meeting in Zurich with a group including Bob Nicholson of Hockey Canada, also want to submit the battle over Radulov to binding arbitration.

Radulov signed to play in the Continental league this summer despite still being under contract to the Nashville Predators of the NHL. His argument was the contract was signed before the NHL and KHL agreed to honour each other's contracts.

Because an olive branch has been extended in the Radulov case, the international federation reportedly will allow him to play for Salavat Ufa in the European Champions League tournament until things are decided.

But in order for an agreement to emerge, the NHL would have to approve of taking the Radulov case to a third-party — either a court or an independent arbitrator. There was no comment from the NHL.

KHL officials had also objected to the signing of Tomas Mojzis (by Minnesota), Jason Krog (Vancouver) and Fedor Fedorov (New Jersey) in the off-season.