Quote:
Originally Posted by faulkner91sf
Is anyone else getting pretty nervous about the new Russian, Belarus, Kazakh, and Latvian league? It seems like all the news paper articles and all the blogs and everything on the internet that they are going to take a serious run at being the number 1 league in the world.
The weird thing is, I think they have a good chance of doing it. With the NHL being at one of its weaker points, it is the perfect time for other leagues to "attack" and move up in the rankings.
The no salary cap for the KHL is going to get a lot of big players interested from all around the world.
Also the KHL has 24 teams at the moment and they want to expand into the 09-10 season, they have invited the Swedish powerhouses Farjestads and Frolunda. They have no accepeted OR REJECTED.
thoughts?
|
How is the NHL at its weakest? With profits climbing thanks to the strong Canadian dollar and the US television ratings for last year's Cup final higher than they'd been since 1994, I'd say the NHL is starting look stronger than it has for 15 years.
The KHL still has a long way to go. Right now they are only luring aging eastern European talent for the most part. When they lure a player of Ovechkin's or Crosby's ability away from the NHL, then I'll sit up and take notice. The best young North American talent will not go to Russia unless the money being offered is at least double. They can't win a Stanley Cup playing in Latvia.
Right now the KHL is at best Europe's incarnation of the WHA. IMO they are a greater threat to the Swedish Elite League than they are to the NHL.