How big will the Russian league (CHL) be to the NHL?

Question

This is the beginning of an era that the NHL really doesn't want or need at this time.

Let me give you a list of players that have signed in russia already this year:

John Grahame

Chris Simon

Karel Rachunek

Wade Dubliwicz(sp?)

Jaromir Jagr

Ray Emery

Niko Kapanen

Marcel Hossa

ALEXANDER RADULOV***

players signing in other Europeon teams:

Joe Dipenta (sweden)

Allan Rourke (Germany)

Olli Malmivaara (Finland)

Martin Straka (Czech)

Patrick Thoreson (Switzerland)

Joey Tenute (Finland)

Jozef Balej (Czech)

Those signings all happened since July 1st!

not to mention im missing a few probably.

but this is crazy! all these players are being sucked into europeon teams because they are offering them money that the NHL organizations can't or aren't willing to match. some players don't even give their respective clubs the respect of telling them that they plan on signing in europe. the CHL has signed basically the same amount of players as every other country in Europe!

Answer 1

-ya, I don't like how the NHL thinks the CHL isn't a threat.

-When you start thinking that way, it usually comes back to haunt your @$$!

-radulov is an absolute talented player. had him on my fantasy teams.

-Bettemen needs to start thinking about what to do.

-i don't think teams should have to overpay to keep someone, but the NHL is going to start having just Canadian & U.S. players, how fun is that going to be? It won't, b/c NHL fans want to see great European players.

-european players though would be closer to family, etc, so I see why they'd leave.

Answer 2

It's not going to be a threat at all, Radulov was gong back to Russia whether there was a KHL or not.

So...............I do have a question for you

Why shouldn't Allan Rourke and Joe Tenute play in Europe?  They offered their services around the NHL and there were no takers.  Rourke's been offering his services to North American teams since Edmonton released him with no takers.  It's not that they can't match, or aren't willing - they just aren't desirable commodities.

Thoresen will be back in the NHL, he's just taking a year away to 'find' his game.

Straka is ready to retire and who in the NHL was going to let him be a VP,  a GM,  and a player all in the same year....exactly..........but his hometown team will do just that while he plays out the string.

John Grahame?  Nobody's mourning his loss.

Chris Simon?  Nobody wanted the trouble he was worth.

Karel Rachunek?  He hasn't been better than a 4th or 5th defenceman in his NHL career (He ranked 6th in ice time amongst NJ defencemen this past year).

Wade Dubielewicz?  He wasn't starter material in the NHL, but he'll get that chance  in Russia.  Sometimes it is better to take less money to play more.  Very few NHL players are happy collecting a paycheque while doing nothing.

Jaromir Jagr?  Feelings are mixed about him, but he's not a spotlight guy, and in Omsk.....he'll be happier.

Ray Emery?  Nobody wanted his baggage, and those that did weren't willing to meet his price (He was asking $5MM/yr)

Niko Kapanen?  All across North America (except maybe Dallas and Phoenix) people are asking...Niko who?

78 players who played in the NHL in the 2006-07 season played last season in a European league..............this year that number is down to 47..............people have the right to work where they want.

None of these people are being sucked, most of them are currently unemployed and taking the best offer they get.  For those that are borderline NHLers, they will get the playing time they aren't getting here.

Until North Americans start jumping leagues en masse, nobody's going to worry.  Nobody ever questions a guy who wants to play closer to home.

However, of all the players you listed...........only 4 of them received contract offers from NHL teams........

Also, they use the 'K' because it's the Kontinental Hockey League.  Both the Swiss and Czech Leagues also use the acronyms CHL..............as does the Central Hockey League (http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/).  It has nothing to do with the Canadian Junior Leagues.

With regards to Malkin, he says he'll take less money to play in the NHL.  He agrees with Yashin, there's no point in playing for $15MM if the rest of your team is made up of $250K rejects just to stay under the cap.

Answer 3

none of those players are worth a bag of pucks. the NHL is doing OK

When they steal a Kolvalchuk or Luongo, then ill start to worry

Radulov aint much, and Jagr's career is almost over. the NHL wont miss a beat with out them.

Answer 4

KHL. Not CHL, that's the Canadian Hockey Leauge, Which is juniors.

They won't be a huge threat. Why? Max of five international players on any roster. and can only ice 4 a game. And a Salary cap of around 25 mil.

So they get a bunch of borderline talent. Big Whoop.... They'll  hurt the AHL more then anybody.

Answer 5

It'll steal the NHL thunder in Europe, but I doubt it'll do much here. As I told TB a week or two ago, I think the only reason the NHL started going to Europe was to try to KEEP their European fans.

Bill Daly said something stupid a while ago in an article about the transfer agreement that the NHL is not worried about the KHL at all because he believes that the "best players in the world" would still want to play in North American continent. If I were him, I wouldn't underestimate my competition. Just speaking in the economical sense, the USD is worth jack all right now, and the Euro dollar is climbing. That's enough to cause concern on the world stage.

Now that I think about it, Chris, if the KHL's product is actual hockey, without all of Bettman's dumb-as$ ideas like the trapezoid and current instigating rules, I'd probably jump ship to the KHL.

Answer 6

Every year dozens of players go to European teams from Canada. Can you name three who went last year? Next year you probably won't remember most of these guys either.