For the past few weeks, one of the hot topics in hockey circles has been the stream of NHL talent heading across the Atlantic to join teams in the new Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Players leaving the NHL to play in Europe is nothing new. Leagues in Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Germany, and other countries have long attracted players with NHL experience. However, most of those players have been career minor leaguers or players from those countries wanting to play at home. The players heading to the KHL this season aren't exactly that caliber.
The highest profile name heading to the KHL has been Jaromir Jagr. After failing to find an NHL team willing to give him the 3 year contract he so greatly desired, he decided to head to Russia and sign with Avangard Omsk, the team he played for during the NHL lockout in 2004-05. While early reports had Jagr being offered a reported $35 million for two years, the deal is actually worth between $5 million and $7 million per seas...
Original Story:
http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=1545
Original Story:
http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=1545
FYI Hartigan played in just one playoff game with the Ducks, 4 playoff games with the Red Wings so calling him a 2 time cup winner is not accurate.
Westcott spent most of last season in the AHL so he is no loss given that the Bluejackets bought him out.
Jagr wanted a 3 year deal that no NHL team in their right mind would give him and the majority of those who signed in Russia were those who had no NHL future.
Really only Russians like Radulaov and Brylin signed to play there so to be viewed as any kind of direct competition to the NHL, the KHL needs to sign quality players who's leaving the NHL would have an impact.
This "sky is falling" belief is very premature given how the Russians have shown they can not even get along with each other for very long.
Talk to us when a first round draft pick spurns the NHL for Russia OK
You need men of action, dammit! Derek Sanderson, Eddie Shack, and Ken Linseman.
That's the dream diplomatic ticket.