"The situation is tricky, we can't say anything about it yet", Lions' CEO Peter Zahner tells the source. "I am not allowed to say why it is delayed," team manager Edgar Salis adds.
But as Watson seems to know, the obstacle in question is a legal issue concerning the regulatory statutes of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Those require that a player from a non EU country has to have played at least one year on a professional contract so that a work permit can be issued.
The 18-year-old, who has so far only played junior and college hockey in the United States, does therefore not fulfil that requirement. It now remains to be seen if the ZSC Lions can find a legal solution to receive a work permit for the talent. A decision is expected within the next two weeks. (lcu)
