Can the KHL Challenge the NHL?
Since the Kontinetal Hockey League (KHL) was formed in 2008, many have worried that the growth of the league would cause the departure of high level National Hockey League (NHL) talent.
With 20 of the 23 KHL teams in Russia, the thought of losing talented Russian players has been the main concern. However, with teams in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Latvia, the thought that some players could elect to remain home instead of travelling across the pond has fans and the NHL worried.
What makes the KHL special?
The NHL has been competing with rival European leagues for years, and no one seemed to be concerned with losing talent. The Swedish Elite League, Finnish Elite League, and Danish Elite League have been funnelling players to the NHL for some time, and prior to the development of the KHL, eastern block leagues had been doing the same.
What makes the KHL different is the amount of money that has been sunk into the league. The salaries are challenging that of the NHL, something the Swedish and Finnish leagues are not able to achieve.
The Finnish and Swedish leagues have been used as training grounds for young NHL players. With most teams sending Scandinavian draft picks back to play another season in their home country.
The KHL is attempting to be a viable alternative to playing in North America.
Players in the KHL
The overwhelming majority of KHL players are Russian. 514 players in the league are Russian citizens, the next closest nationality is Kazak, with only 30 players. Nevertheless, the KHL does house a great deal of talent capable of playing at the NHL level.
Currently, Alexei Yashin, Alexei Morozov, and Alexander Radulov all play in Russia, and all started their professional careers in the NHL.
In the case of Yashin, he departed when he was no longer able to play at the level he was accustomed to in the NHL. In his last full season in the league, he managed 66 points, and last season in the KHL he finished second in the league in scoring with 64 points. The KHL provided Yashin with the ability to play more minutes, while dominating the competition.
Morozov was the first big name player to head to the KHL in 2004. He departed the Pittsburgh Penguins after scoring 50 points in 75 games. Selected 24th overall, Morozov could never live up to his potential in the NHL, yet has made a living as one of the best players in the ‘K,' scoring 49 points in 50 games last season.
Radulov left the NHL after playing two impressive years with the Nashville Predators, to join Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the KHL. Last year with the club, he finished with 62 points in 54 games. Many believe that Radulov is the best player playing outside the NHL in the world.
NHL’s concerns
The fact that Radulov left at such a young age before his entry level contract expired concerns the NHL.
Radulov was set to make $1 million in his final year with Nashville, but was offered a $7 million dollar contract by Salavat Yulayev, and elected to go with the impressive numbers.
This troubles the NHL because the KHL is able to offer huge contracts to promising youngsters, while NHL squads are limited to maximum three-year entry level deals of $900,000. The KHL poses a legitimate threat when trying to retain young Russian talent.
The reluctance of NHL teams to draft Russian born players with high draft picks is a result of this threat.
So far this offseason, the only major players to depart for the KHL have been Denis Grebeshkov and Evgeni Nabokov.
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