Discussion: Kovalchuk to the KHL?

[mmamolo 287]

I read an interesting post:

hockeytraderumors.com

[Wings_Toledo 233]

As much as I like Kovalchuk, he seems like the type of guy who would go back to Russia for the money. There's no telling for sure until something actually happens, though.

[PrairieDawg 52]

They mentioned Ovechkin in the title and then made no mention of him in the article?

[mmamolo 287]

Ya the Ovechkin title is a waste of time.

For that amount of money it'd be tough to really say any one wouldnt go. I mean that is intense.

[soultrain 43]

who wouldn't take triple the money to play back in their home country. it is not like he couldn't come back if it was really not worth the $20 million tax free he would get paid for playing ONE SEASON! peace out kovalchuk!...that is what the nhl gets for making stupid business decisions and expanding into s*** hockey markets.

[eva unit zero 271]

If Kovalchuk is offered $20m tax free to play in Russia, he would be stupid not to take it.

The most he can POSSIBLY get in the US is $10m before taxes, and the taxes would be like 40% or more.

So he'd be getting paid almost four times as much.

He's not on a team that has any chance at winning the Cup. He's not going to be courted by a team that has any chance at winning the Cup. I don't know his current financial situation, but assuming he has blown all of his previous earnings, what I would do is take the $20m for one season, then come back to the NHL for like $1m or $1.5m with a team that already has all of the pieces in place. That way, I have several seasons' worth of earnings under my belt from just one year, and am playing on a loaded team with a shot at the Cup.

Makes you wonder why good ol' Canadian boys who just "play for the love of the game and the chance at a Cup" don't just take the league minimum.

[CenterIce 83]

Makes you wonder why good ol' Canadian boys who just "play for the love of the game and the chance at a Cup" don't just take the league minimum.

Because the NHLPA will go crazy if they do. They want every player to make as much as they possibly can, so that when the next player goes into his negotiations, he has high points of reference for what his salary should be.

Edited January 14, 2010 by CenterIce

[mjlegend 155]

The most outspoken membership of the NHLPA is the more well-heeled players from all nationalities. Canadians too. If you have a nice, long 12-16-year professional career playing the game there are only so many chances you ever get to acquire money for your family for generations.

If anyone thinks, say, Jason Spezza or Dany Heatley or John Tavares wouldn't move to the KHL for a $10 million raise/year they'd be foolish. Right about now, Sheldon Souray would probably pay for his own flight and accomodation to get out of Edmonton.

I bet no one here would have questioned Larionov and Fetisov for coming over to NA for a quick cash grab in the early 90s.

[Wings_Toledo 233]

It's not like I would blame him for taking the money. To get paid like that is an opportunity you really can't pass up. I just hate to see players leave the NHL and play in leagues that are a step below them in terms of playing ability, just because of this stupid salary cap.

[eva unit zero 271]

Because the NHLPA will go crazy if they do. They want every player to make as much as they possibly can, so that when the next player goes into his negotiations, he has high points of reference for what his salary should be.

If I were the reigning Hart trophy, Selke trophy, Ross trophy, and Pearson award winner and I had made a total of $30m over the previous 4 seasons, but my team was a mediocre offensive team overall, poor defensively, and had mediocre goaltending I would sign a one or two year deal for the league minimum and tell them to do their best to improve the weak areas through trades or free agency. Let the NHLPA throw a fit; the goal is to win a Cup, not make money. I would tell every single NHLPA spokesman and member who criticized me for it that they could go "test their flexibility" as it were. I want to win; money is secondary.