The Panthers signed right winger Evgeny Dadonov to a three-year, entry level contract on Wednesday, ending speculation whether the 20-year-old Russian would be allowed to leave his native country's Continental Hockey League (KHL) for the NHL.

According to several news reports, the KHL claims Dadonov, the Panthers' third-round draft pick (71st overall) in 2007, is still under a two-year contract with one of its teams, Traktor Chelyabinsk. Dadonov has played the past three seasons for Chelyabinsk, his hometown team, and recorded 11 goals and four assists in 40 games in 2008-09.

According to a New York Times blog in late July, which cited a report by a Russian news outlet, Chelyabinsk was prepared to sue either for Dadonov's return or a compensatory fee from the Panthers.

However, Panthers' assistant general manager Randy Sexton said Wednesday that Dadonov's KHL contract expired after this past season. Sexton said the Panthers provided proof of the expiration to the NHL before negotiating a deal with Dadonov's agent.

He said he has heard of the KHL's threats of a lawsuit, but that the Panthers have had no communication with Dadonov's team or the KHL. He added that NHL rules prohibit compensation to the KHL for a player.

"I don't think we can eliminate anybody suing us, but we followed proper protocol, we followed all the rules, we waited until his contract expired, we waited until after the World Championships, we negotiated the deal and the league has approved it," Sexton said. "So there are no issues there."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to the SunSentinel on Wednesday that Dadonov's contract is "official." The Panthers provided sufficient evidence to the league that Dadonov's KHL contract had expired, Daly noted in the email, adding that "we have consulted with the Russian league and suffice it to say, they have not provided any evidence to us that justifies a contrary conclusion."

The 5-foot-10, 178-pound Dadonov, who has been training with several Panthers' players at Incredible Ice, said of his signing Wednesday, "It feels good. I'm very lucky. ... I think the NHL is better than KHL. I like that I will play in the NHL and I hope to play for the Panthers this year."

Sexton described Dadonov as skilled, smart and elusive.

"We're pleased. This is a very good player," Sexton said of the signing. "He's not ready to play in the NHL yet, I don't believe, but he had a very good World Junior Championships -- seven points in seven games. Equally important for me, he played on the top line.

"It's good to get him here," Sexton added. "He'll likely start the year in [AHL affiliate] Rochester. That's OK, he needs some time."