[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?

[rodabop]

I believe the lesser stars will be, initially, attracted to the league but guys like Malkin, who turned down a lucrative contract, will shy away from something not yet proven. Another WHA?

[MaCabe]

I doubt it will surpass the NHL, the major flaw it has is that a majority (strong majority) of the World's best are Canadian, so this would mean we would see less Eastern Europeans in the league for sure, but as for our competitive level I think it will always be the top.

I wonder if the start of an international European league is finally going to move the NHL into Gordo's wet dream for hockey. I remember back at hockeyforums.com he would often mentioned the NHL evolving into the two league system, Euro and North American, they would play separately, and their champions would meet in the final, but of course both leagues would have to shave off the fat, a 60 team league would be too large. It would be interesting to see if the NHL will be able to absorb the kHL like they did the WHL.

[mfauris]

I believe the lifestyle of the USA is what a lot of players want. I'm going to have faith besides the NHL being the best Hockey in the world, players will also want the American lifestyle.

Matt Fauris

[faulkner91sf]

Originally Posted by mfauris

I believe the lifestyle of the USA is what a lot of players want. I'm going to have faith besides the NHL being the best Hockey in the world, players will also want the American lifestyle.

Matt Fauris

Thats probably the only reason I personally would never go to the KHL is so I could live in North America (IM NOT SAYING IM GOING TO THE NHL, haha) but if i ever had the choice to play pro hockey in the KHL or NHL i would choose the NHL, ONLY because of where I would live.

[Earnhardt]

I am certain that a good portion of the European born and bred players if they had a chance would chose to stay in their own backyard, much the same as some of you are saying you would prefer to stay here in North America.

How many times have we heard that a player from (Oh lets say Sweden) has expressed and interest in going back to Sweden to either retire or finish off a career there.

And we all know that a lot of Euro players are also here for the money, so there are two positive points for that league as far as some Euro players are concerned, money, and close proximity to home and family........think about it...........

[Hockey North Star]

KHL has zero change of going head to head with the NHL first of all if any of you have ever been to russia you would know this. the Arens are to small compred to North America.
TV Money is not even close to what the NHL makes. just the 6 Canadian Teams CBC & TSN deals make more the KHL. The ticket prices in the NHL are 3 times more then KHL charge for games.
right now the only thing that KHL has is oil money. They may compete the NHL one day but it won't be right now.
What the KHL will do is raid the rest of the european leagues like Sweden Finland and the Czech leagues. they will get some NHL players but for the most part it will be 3rd and 4th liners. It will hurt maybe minor leagues like AHL ECHL and so on.

[faulkner91sf]

Originally Posted by Hockey North Star

KHL has zero change of going head to head with the NHL first of all if any of you have ever been to russia you would know this. the Arens are to small compred to North America.

First off, the majority of us, IMO, have NOT been to Russia. Second of all, this league is bound to get bigger, its like something similar to the Toronto FC. Except that the TFC is a smaller proportion, its a brand new team (league) that got very big and good verrrrry fast. Im just saying IMO I think this league will turn out to be number 2 and definitely move up.

[StlBluesfan4ever]

I do have to agree that the new "league" is far from a real threat to the NHL. Remember, in baseball, Japan has a pretty big baseball following and american football has a european league, however, only younger players trying to make a name for themselves or NHL "rejects", vets who have fallen off for the competion on the NHL and trying to still stay around the game in some fasit are in these other leagues. Their ultimate goal is still to play in america. Endorsements and TV contracts and big player contracts will keep the NHL strong and actually the other leagues might help get the NHL back on their feet by letting players get their feet wet with actual Professional competion, not just college level tested players.

[Rids]

Just some other details to this. The Russian Super League that played prior to the new Continental Hockey League was already placed as the #2 pro league in the world by many. They have a shorter season with high salaries and in some cases can pay their players in tax free situations it will definately be something to consider. The contract offered to Malkin was worth $12.5 million tax free.

It isn't a gate driven league and so the crowd sizes aren't really a factor. Neither is the TV exposure. These owners are richer in many cases than many of the NHL ownership groups. Many teams are owned by large corporations and have used the Russian Super League as an inter-company competition. Think Ford vs. Dodge vs. Chevy not just on the race track but on the ice, basketball court and soccer field.