egroen 384 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 The KHL is getting a lot of these skilled 2nd-tier guys that are just plain fun to watch. Kinda sucks. http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/280160.html English translation: Nikolai Zherdev will cross the Atlantic in his turn. The former player of Rangers accepted a new contract with the team of Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL. Zherdev will evolve/move in particular with Alexander Perezhogin and Alexander Radulov. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Who didn't see this coming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Hmm...the KHL waited until after the Rangers walked away from Zherdev's arbitration and made him a UFA, yet not until after Hudler's hearing even happened? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Or maybe Zherdev is just smart enough to wait himself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Next up, Alex Semin... he's a typical KHL player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Next up, Alex Semin... he's a typical KHL player. Sure as hell fights like one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mmamolo 287 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Although Zherdev was signed to a KHL contract after the Rangers walked away from his contract and Hudler was signed before his arbitration hearing we should remember that the KHL wouldnt operate as a whole in this regard. Hudler signed with Dynamo Moscow while Zherdev signed with Salavat Yulaev. The two teams, although both from the KHL, may operate differently. So the fact that one NHL player was signed before his arbitration hearing and another signed after should reflect the way the two separate KHL franchises do business (at leat in this example), not how the KHL as a whole does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 I'm definitely not surprised. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Ruff 47 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Too bad... would've loved to see him on a team like Washington or Buffalo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RusDRW 155 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Zherdev to KHL is not official yet. Just some rumors flying in Russia's media. He definitely wants to play in NHL but nobody gives what he wants (something around 4M long term). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 (edited) This is really beginning to be a problem. Once the HUGE name players start migrating over there, people will really start taking notice, and the league will probably step up. The only way to possibly counter the KHL is to either take away the cap or raise it drastically. Edited August 11, 2009 by ShanahanMan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWings Gone Wild 6 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 This is really beginning to be a problem. Once the HUGE name players start migrating over there, people will really start taking notice, and the league will probably step up. The only way to possibly counter the KHL is to either take away the cap or raise it drastically. Agreed. I also think the NHL is going to have a tough time with the next CBA if they allow the cap to dip again.... hello another lost season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooon 1,089 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 simple solution for the wings: dont draft or sign any more russians Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xtrememachine1 795 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Didn't he leave Russia under bad terms? He was supposed to fulfill his military duty or something and belonged to a Russian team. Kinda surprising to see him go back there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snazzy 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 I blame the salary cap and Bettman. He is ruining the NHL. These NHL pro-athletes look around at other sport pro-athletes, like NBA and see they are making much better money that doesn't destroy the body like hockey does... yet NHL players get paid peanuts compared to other sports. I would run off to a better paying job too, who wouldn't? The Salary cap should be $60 - $70 million Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xtrememachine1 795 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 I blame the salary cap and Bettman. He is ruining the NHL. The Salary cap should be $60 - $70 million These players leaving for Russia because NHL teams can't afford them because of the cap will be a big discussion at the next CBA. I don't think making the cap $70 mil will fix anything either. They'll have to figure out something else. Something that keeps small market teams competitive, yet keeps players from leaving the NHL for the KHL because of money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 What happens when Sweden and the Czech Republic or Slovakia start stealing players the same way? No Euros in hockey anymore, possibly? That would be good for the lower lines, but bad for the skilled players and for hockey in general. I hope the KHL goes bankrupt somehow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROBIE4PREZ 58 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 meh .. The KHL is taking players who are lazy, old, or are over pricing themselves out of contracts .. Sounds good to me .. get rid of the trash and bring in some fresh faces competing for jobs .. NHL needs to get back to the mid 90's with North American power forwards anyways ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snazzy 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 These players leaving for Russia because NHL teams can't afford them because of the cap will be a big discussion at the next CBA. I don't think making the cap $70 mil will fix anything either. They'll have to figure out something else. Something that keeps small market teams competitive, yet keeps players from leaving the NHL for the KHL because of money. Raising the cap is the only thing I can think of that would fix the issue Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 I imagine that this will bode well in the long term for pro-enforcer types. Right now the NHL is still the premier league to play in and is ultimately every player's dream. The KHL is taking second-line players at best and throwing top-3 $ at them. So what the KHL gets is a bunch of decent talent, but no stuff of legend along the lines of Malkin or Zetterberg. The NHL loses many 2nd line players, which pushes up third liners and 4th liners. All of a sudden as a team you have some extra money to spend, but no skill players to spend it on. Enter the enforcer. If trends continue the way they are, I imagine in 5 to 10 years the nhl will resemble the 80's in many of the more physical aspects, yet still retain the speed and finesse of the post-cap world. At least ideally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 I imagine that this will bode well in the long term for pro-enforcer types. Right now the NHL is still the premier league to play in and is ultimately every player's dream. The KHL is taking second-line players at best and throwing top-3 $ at them. So what the KHL gets is a bunch of decent talent, but no stuff of legend along the lines of Malkin or Zetterberg. The NHL loses many 2nd line players, which pushes up third liners and 4th liners. All of a sudden as a team you have some extra money to spend, but no skill players to spend it on. Enter the enforcer. If trends continue the way they are, I imagine in 5 to 10 years the nhl will resemble the 80's in many of the more physical aspects, yet still retain the speed and finesse of the post-cap world. At least ideally. Actually, there's several enforcers playing in the KHL nowadays, so apparently they like the money too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mmamolo 287 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Im not sure but does anyone know if the NHL has, or has discussed, introducing profit sharing throughout the league. Profit sharing through their TV deal would enable the cap to go up while giving smaller market teams money to spend and stay competitive. I would imagine Owners, of the big market teams, wouldnt be too crazy about Profit Sharing but if Im not mistaken I believe the NFL has it and it seems to work well. The league is constantly competitive and I never hear of serious financial problems for franchises. But then again, they actually have a lucrative tv deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Another alternative is cap-discounts for home-grown talent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mmamolo 287 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Or a Luxury Tax to give the big markets the ability to spend and the smaller markets could share in the Luxury Tax with the league to earn additional Revenue Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted August 11, 2009 Would it be unfair to blame Bettman for the KHL's success in stealing players? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
