from Sean Gentile of The Sporting News,

If the entirety of the NHLPA is looking for work in a few days, the KHL can afford to be picky—and that's just what the Russian league will do.

Only "top-rated talent" is welcome, according to Sport-Express' Slava Malamud, and that's according to the league's stated guidelines.

That means that if clubs are looking to sign non-Russian NHL players, they must have played in either 150 NHL games, on national teams, in the KHL previously or won a Stanley Cup or individual trophy.

The rules will go into effect the day the NHL announces the lockout and be enforced until the situation is resolved. Owners maintain that they'll lock out the NHLPA on Sept. 15.

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