I think in the future if the KHL manages to become more on par with the NHL (not only in terms of wages but also in terms of infastructure and so on) you will probably see more player movement between to 2 leagues, not only of Russian players, players will choose a team where they can make money, play on a high level against quality competition and for a team that has a chance of winning/making the playoffs. It will be more like in soccer where there are several strong leagues worldwide. Still the KHL has a lot of growing today before it will be able to reach this level.
I think in the future if the KHL manages to become more on par with the NHL (not only in terms of wages but also in terms of infastructure and so on) you will probably see more player movement between to 2 leagues, not only of Russian players, players will choose a team where they can make money, play on a high level against quality competition and for a team that has a chance of winning/making the playoffs. It will be more like in soccer where there are several strong leagues worldwide. Still the KHL has a lot of growing today before it will be able to reach this level.
Actually, if this comes true and ice hockey world becomes a bit more like soccer with at least 2 strong leagues, that will benefit the whole sport.
I think in the future if the KHL manages to become more on par with the NHL (not only in terms of wages but also in terms of infastructure and so on) you will probably see more player movement between to 2 leagues, not only of Russian players, players will choose a team where they can make money, play on a high level against quality competition and for a team that has a chance of winning/making the playoffs. It will be more like in soccer where there are several strong leagues worldwide. Still the KHL has a lot of growing today before it will be able to reach this level.
Because hockey is now so much more international than it was 30 years ago, it seems that it was inevitable that the NHL could not maintain its monopoly on being the only top level pro league in the World. 30 years ago, European leagues existed mainly to feed national teams for World/Olympic championship competition. Now, European hockey has expanded so much, and there are so many high quality youth and club teams, it seems inevitable that the NHL would eventually have a counterpart, and eventually a competitor, in Europe.
I highly doubt as a league, the KHL can rival the NHL. That would mean that most of the 24 teams would need to be able to pay between 45-60M in salary plus infrastructure. It would cost approximately 300M to build an NHL arena.
I kind of agree that more high end russian players will stay in the homeland. I think most team can sustain 1-2 big contract. But can they affort 5-6?
The KHL will continue to grow as a league. It will close the gap with the NHL, but I highly doubt that it will rival the NHL. To do so, top players (from other countries that russia) would have to pick Russia over NA. I have no proof to support that, just a my opinion.
I highly doubt as a league, the KHL can rival the NHL. That would mean that most of the 24 teams would need to be able to pay between 45-60M in salary plus infrastructure. It would cost approximately 300M to build an NHL arena.
I kind of agree that more high end russian players will stay in the homeland. I think most team can sustain 1-2 big contract. But can they affort 5-6?
The KHL will continue to grow as a league. It will close the gap with the NHL, but I highly doubt that it will rival the NHL. To do so, top players (from other countries that russia) would have to pick Russia over NA. I have no proof to support that, just a my opinion.
china pulls the plug and the face value of dollar will cease to exist...
I highly doubt as a league, the KHL can rival the NHL. That would mean that most of the 24 teams would need to be able to pay between 45-60M in salary plus infrastructure. It would cost approximately 300M to build an NHL arena.
I kind of agree that more high end russian players will stay in the homeland. I think most team can sustain 1-2 big contract. But can they affort 5-6?
The KHL will continue to grow as a league. It will close the gap with the NHL, but I highly doubt that it will rival the NHL. To do so, top players (from other countries that russia) would have to pick Russia over NA. I have no proof to support that, just a my opinion.
Obviously it wont happen in the next decade, for example the average arena capacity in the KHL isn't half of the NHL's. But who knows how things will be 20 years down the line. The KHL still has a lot of growing to do before they can close the gape thats for shure and i don't think they themselves would deny it.
The Canadiens could possibly draft Grigorenko or Yakupov, depending on whether they continue to drop in the standings. If they do, I think it would give them further incentive to trade for Radulov. That would be their top line right there.
china pulls the plug and the face value of dollar will cease to exist...
Only problem is that it'll never happen...
Only league that can rival NHL in say 10-15 years can only be based in Western Europe. In Russia there's enough money for 20 clubs to have budgets of 40+ million and by paying under the table or semi-official with no tax on salary they might afford to pay comparabe contracts... unfortunately language bareer, infrastructure, no profitability etc. These factors would make Canadian and Scandinavian top stars to think twice before moving to KHL....
If only there was political willingness to do, KHL would be up to NHL standards budgets and infrastructure wise very soon. The government would just have to say ''no support to soccer'' and send all the money hockey's way. But that won't happen as soccer is way more popular and better for politics.
If only there was political willingness to do, KHL would be up to NHL standards budgets and infrastructure wise very soon. The government would just have to say ''no support to soccer'' and send all the money hockey's way. But that won't happen as soccer is way more popular and better for politics.
Until Sochi2014 hockey has much needed time in the spotlight, hopefully hockey will gain as much as as possible from this situation, but oh boy, it will be forgotten fast when football championship will come closer.
according to google translate he will come to NA and play out the remaining year on his contract allowing him to sign a lucrative contract next year wherever he want
according to google translate he will come to NA and play out the remaining year on his contract allowing him to sign a lucrative contract next year wherever he want
Except it plainly says he will still be restricted, he is property of the Preds, no one else.
And, his agent has officially spoken now. He said he will know more on March 15th. Can't wait!
The loss of Radulov won't be that substantial if Alexander Semin decides to leave Washington for the KHL. I think he would be even more of an impact player Radulov was and having a star caliber player like him would be an important step forward for the KHL
"NHL officials today informed the 30 general managers assembled for their annual winter meetings that, four years after walking out on his contract with the Nashville Predators, controversial Alexander Radulov is eligible to rejoin the Predators this season, even if it is only for the playoffs."
Will he leave? Will he stay? I don't think it will have much of an impact as long as KHL will continue to improve. In my opinion the overall quality of the league has greatly improved over the last 3 years, and not because of Radulov's presence, even if he's a pleasure to watch (see game 1 of this year's 1/4's against Bars for a reference).
You know what would be funny... is that Radulov come back but only plays 9 games with Nashville...He is still on EL contract... that mean 9 games, per the CBA, does not count against a year. He would still have to play out is remaining year! As of today, Nashville as 12 games left... countdown is ON!
You know what would be funny... is that Radulov come back but only plays 9 games with Nashville...He is still on EL contract... that mean 9 games, per the CBA, does not count against a year. He would still have to play out is remaining year! As of today, Nashville as 12 games left... countdown is ON!
that only counts for 18 and 19 year old players. If he dresses his ecl is over next year.
"Acording to Yahoo! Sports, Radulov's Russian agent Yuri Nikolaev confirmed the 25-year-old winger's return on Monday, telling Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport "the matter has been resolved within the framework of the Kontinental Hockey League regulations. Alexander is leaving for Nashville.""
I think I read it somewhere that he was already tweeting from the airport, by now he should be in the plane already, he's going and might play his first game even some time later this week.
Though they say he might return back to Ufa after the season ends as he'd have to buy out the remaining year of his contract if he wants to play in the NHL. Knowing that his contract with Ufa should be huge, it could be a possibility that he still plays one more year in KHL... They say he already had to buy out what's left on his contract for this year to go to NHL.
I doubt that someone would resign him for more than 7 mil/year in the NHL. If he was signed to 6mil, he would spend his NHL income on buying out his KHL contract. I seriously doubt that Radulov would play 1 NHL year for free
I highly doubt as a league, the KHL can rival the NHL. That would mean that most of the 24 teams would need to be able to pay between 45-60M in salary plus infrastructure. It would cost approximately 300M to build an NHL arena.
I kind of agree that more high end russian players will stay in the homeland. I think most team can sustain 1-2 big contract. But can they affort 5-6?
The KHL will continue to grow as a league. It will close the gap with the NHL, but I highly doubt that it will rival the NHL. To do so, top players (from other countries that russia) would have to pick Russia over NA. I have no proof to support that, just a my opinion.
Although there is no way to tell, because they don't play each other, my sense is that the gap isn't as great as many people think. A lot of NHL teams aren't that great, and a lot of individual NHL players are far less than superstars. Each team has a few stars, and the rest of the players are just role players filling out a roster. Next year, they may be gone because they have been replaced by someone who is just a little bit better.
Depending on how fast, or even if, continued development occurs, it may not be all that long before the KHL starts attracting some of the better European players. If it did, and if Russian hockey has the incentive to improve development of Russian youth, you might see a closer competitive balance faster than many would imagine.
I doubt that someone would resign him for more than 7 mil/year in the NHL. If he was signed to 6mil, he would spend his NHL income on buying out his KHL contract. I seriously doubt that Radulov would play 1 NHL year for free
Poile said there's lots of misinformation out there. The general manager said Radulov told him he does not have a contract or promise to go back to the KHL.
