Funding for KHL teams isn't that simple either. They are paid for by oligarchs, which doesn't sit well in western democracies.
From what I have read it seems that the main sticking points for a better system in Europe are extensive travel costs, keeping a relegation system and playing more domestic games as fans prefer it (which I firmly doubt, I would much rather watch the Canucks play the Kings rather than the Prince George Cougars). I think a hybrid system, which I have posted elsewhere, would grow the game immensely. Also as for the argument that great minds in Europe have thought of it and cant make it work is neglecting the variable of Russia/ KHL issues changing the landscape like never before.
My suggestion is to create 3 different leagues and each 3 have 3 tiers of relegation. One league in central Europe containing teams from the Czech, Slovak, Austrian and Polish leagues. Another league in Western Europe containing teams from the German. Swiss, French and British leagues. The third league would be made up of all the Nordic countries and would look like:
Tier 1
| Teams | | Arena | Population (metro) |
| 1 | Stockholm | Djurgardens | 13,850 | 2,392,000 |
| 2 | Gothenberg | Frolunda | 12,044 | 1,048,000 |
| 3 | Malmo | Red Hawks | 12,600 | 730,000 |
| 4 | Uppsala | Almtuna IS | -10,000 | 295,000 |
| 5 | Linkoping | HC | 8,500 | 207,000 |
| 6 | Stockholm | AIK | 8,094 | 2,392,000 |
| 7 | Karlstad | Farjestad BK | 8,646 | 180,000 |
| 8 | Helsinki | Jokerit | 13,349 | 1,671,000 |
| 9 | Tampere | Ilves | 13,455 | 448,000 |
| 10 | Turku | TPS | 11,820 | 362,000 |
| 11 | Helsinki | HIFK | -10,000 | 1,671,000 |
| 12 | Riga | Dinamo | 10,300 | 1,100,000 |
| 13 | Copenhagen | | 12,500 | 2,057,000 |
| 14 | Oslo | Gruner | -12,000 | 1,600,000 |
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Tier 2
| Teams | | Arena | Population (metro) |
| 1 | Gavle | Brynas IF | 7,909 | 184,000 |
| 2 | Orebro | HK | 5,316 | 208,000 |
| 3 | Jonkoping | HV71 | 7,000 | 171,000 |
| 4 | Vasteras | IK | 4,902 | 200,000 |
| 5 | Vaxjo | Lakers | 5,700 | 156,000 |
| 6 | Angelholm | Rogle BK | 5,150 | 143,000 |
| 7 | Timra | IK | 6,000 | 117,000 |
| 8 | Oulu | Karpat | 6,768 | 260,000 |
| 9 | Jyvaskyla | JYP | -7,000 | 185,000 |
| 10 | Kuopio | KalPa | 5,300 | 168,000 |
| 11 | Lahti | Pelicans | 5,371 | 191,000 |
| 12 | Kaunas | Hockey | 13,762 | 588,000 |
| 13 | Aalborg | Pirates | 5,200 | 217,000 |
| 14 | Stravanger | Oilers | 4,500 | 320,000 |
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Tier 3
| Teams | | Arena | Population (metro) |
| 1 | Uema | IF Bjorkloven | 5,400 | 156,000 |
| 2 | Leksand | IF | 7,650 | 69,000 |
| 3 | Ornskoldsvik | Modo | 7,600 | 56,000 |
| 4 | Lulea | FH | 6,300 | 78,000 |
| 5 | Skelleftea | AIK | 6,001 | 73,000 |
| 6 | Sodertalje | SK | 6,200 | 99,000 |
| 7 | Pori | Assat | 6,300 | 137,000 |
| 8 | Espoo | Keikko | 6,982 | 1,671,000 |
| 9 | Kouvola | KooKoo | 6,200 | 61,000 |
| 10 | Hameenlinna | HPK | 5,360 | 67,000 |
| 11 | Lapreenranta | SaiPa | 4,820 | 73,000 |
| 12 | Tallin | HC Everest | 5,840 | 455,000 |
| 13 | Aarhus | | 5,001 | 350,000 |
| 14 | Bergen | IK | -8,320 | 420,000 |
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Sweden - 20 teams
Finland - 13 teams
Norway - 3 teams
Denmark - 3 teams
The Baltics - 3 teams
Total - 42 teams
What teams would you add and delete? I kinda just sorted the teams based on population and arena size.
13x4= 52 games in a season
top 8 teams play 3 rounds of best of 7
bottom 6 in tier 1 play the top 6 in tier 2 in a best of 7 for relegation
Bottom 8 in tier 2 play the top 8 in tier 3 in a best of 7 for relegation
bottom 6 in tier 3 season is over once the 52 games have been played
eg. the team who finishes 9th in tier 1 would play a best of 7 vs the team that finishes 6th in tier 2
Champions league could be reformatted as the top tier from all three leagues could play each other and the winner could be included as the 4th team in a final four (Champions League winner vs the 3 winners from the 3 leagues).
