NHL vs. KHL? how is this solution??

Question

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AnCJ2VqWdWEZ5ux9B_oT3gx7vLYF?slug=ap-nhl-russia&prov=ap&type=lgns

Answer 1

i didnt read all of it but it sucks how there trying to steal nhl stars like that

hope they come to a agreement

Answer 2

Well, the Russians were smarting from the Malkin 'theft'.  So, this formalizes things again.  Considering the KHL has no salary cap but is limited to 5 non-Russian players per team, it's no big deal.

In terms of players leaving, the ones who want money and not the Stanley Cup will go, or ones whose team of choice cannot accomodate their salary for a season or two.

Given who has gone there who is not European [Ray Emery and Chris Simon come to mind], this helps the NHL, IMO.  Simon is on the tail end of his career and Emery is a toxic whiner.

Answer 3

I don't see how the NHL can have 30 teams and KHL have 24 and both of em have a high level of talent, for the immediate future anyway... but maybe the competition between the two will drive up salaries and competition for talent just like the whl did in the 70s

that will either fold some teams because they can't afford to keep a team b/c people stop coming to see their uncompetative team (which wouldn't be terriable, I think 30 is too much I liked it when there were 5 teams that didn't make the playoffs; it was a more intense playoffs and rivalries were easier to have...)

or it will get rid of the salary cap or set it really high and grow the sport to fill those 30 teams plus 24 in Russia...

because now competetion for players is up (demand) so salaries are gonna have to go up  to keep that talent so more people will have to play and more athletic people will choose hockey cause you can make $$$$$$... I just don't think that there are enough NHL level players out there in the world for two top level leagues (54 teams) now... but the potential for growth of hockey is good here.