He signs with Czech team for next season. JM says Panthers retain his rights but that isn't clear in the opinion of some since there is no transfer agreement at present between the NHL and the International Hockey Federation. Anyway, either way, we need to sign some experienced blueliner that we can stash in Rochester in case of injuries.
Knew this a while back but yeah does anyone know why he left?
It happens with a lot of Euros after a while. If they can't secure a position in the NHL after a few years it's not uncommon for them to go back. They get paid almost as much there as they do in the AHL or ECHL, and it's home
I'd do the same thing if it didn't look like I'd stick long-term with a big club...
I can't say I really blame him if that's the case of earning the same salary here as in their own country. I thought he had some potential for the future with the big club, but I guess it's no major loss. It may give Martin even more of an incentive to sign a defenseman.
He signs with Czech team for next season. JM says Panthers retain his rights but that isn't clear in the opinion of some since there is no transfer agreement at present between the NHL and the International Hockey Federation. Anyway, either way, we need to sign some experienced blueliner that we can stash in Rochester in case of injuries.
We'll be signing a few veterans for Rochester anyway. Not a biggie.
European players earn much, much more in Russian, Swiss, Swedish of Finnish leagues than they would earn on AHL. Expecially so because of the weak dollar. There's really no reason for an European player to spend more than 1-2 years in the farm. Young players give themselves a couple of years to see if they can secure a one-way deal to NHL, and if that doesn't happen, they''ll move on to earn as much as they can during their career.
I guess with JM saying he was going to look for a puck-moving defensman in Free agency meant to Lojek that he probably wasn't going to be on the big club anytime soon.
Lojek really just wasn't going to develop into legitimate NHL talent. He'd have been a career emergency callup, and the Panthers have Ellerby and Caruso and other young dmen coming up the ranks that likely would have pushed him back.
This is the best decision he could have made for his own financial interest, simple as that.
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"...and ultimately it doesn't matter."
European players earn much, much more in Russian, Swiss, Swedish of Finnish leagues than they would earn on AHL. Expecially so because of the weak dollar. There's really no reason for an European player to spend more than 1-2 years in the farm. Young players give themselves a couple of years to see if they can secure a one-way deal to NHL, and if that doesn't happen, they''ll move on to earn as much as they can during their career.
Yup, and it's not just Europeans, a lot of North Americans too.
Apparently Lojek cited "needing a change" and wanting to "try something new" as his reasons for the move. Thats what I could make out of the translation of HC Ocelari's team announcement, at least.
