Rumors Persist: NHL Seems To Be Losing Players To The KHL.
Everyday I read about another solid NHL player not happy with their financial situation and making the jump to the KHL ( Russia’s premier new league ). The teams in that league are willing to pay bigger contracts to entice these high quality players to play in their league. Victor Kozlov has reportedly signed to play for the KHL’s HC Kalavat, but apparently he has not told the Washington Capitals about it. Kozlov has 13 years of NHL experience.
Another rumbling is that Omsk region governor’s hockey advisor Anatoli Bardin would like to see the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Frantisek Kaberle and the Washington Capitals forward Michael Nylander in Avangard Omsk. Both Nylander and Kaberle are players that their respective GMs want to unload through trades this offseason. Nylander will cost the Caps $4.875 million and Kaberle has been dangled as trade bait — to no avail — for the entire season.
Jani Hurme, the former NHL goalie, may sign with one of two KHL clubs interested in him. Hurme hasn’t played in a NHL game since 2003 with the Florida Panthers. Hurme had shown some promise when with the Ottawa Senators 2 years earlier but things never panned out for him.
Rumor has it that Sergei Fedorov arrived in Pskov, Russia, last week to begin negotiation with KHL club Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Although Fedorov has said he wants to remain with the Washington Capitals, if the money is right.
Penguins winger Miroslav Satan has been offered a contract by the KHL’s Barys Astana in Kazakhstan. We’ll have to see if he makes the jump. I know one thing, if he’s offered enough then Satan will leave the Pittsburgh Penguins to attain some financial security.
The one undisputed fact is that if NHL teams don’t open the vault for a couple of these guys then slowly but surely the upper echelon of talent will slowly leave the NHL for a better payday elsewhere. Let’s all remember, this is all just a business and the players are the ones with more leverage because their are many opportunities around the globe to make money playing pro hockey.
Jun 11th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Just to add to the list of players opting to stay in Russia for bigger pay days is a highly touted Montreal draft choice, defense man, by the name of Alexei Yemelin. Can’t understand general manager Bob Gainey’s decision not to spend the extra $$$ to sign him when they already believe that defense man Mike Komisarek will become a free agent and will probably sign with another team The Canadiens will the physical presence of Komisarek.
Jun 11th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I agree Gainey should be willing to pony up the cash needed. Montreal will not be able to compete with the elite teams in the league unless they address some of their roster issues.