If we compare KHL 2008/2009 & KHL 2017/2018, we will see a big development. Nobody can deny it. The league is more professional than it was back in 2008.
Jokerit´s deal was announced in June 2013. Lev left the league in summer 2014, a few months before a change of the KHL leadership & all this political climate. It does not happen like "OK, we will change the KHL leadership and next day new President comes to office". It takes time, at least a few weeks or not months. And exactly at the same time Lev left the KHL. Maybe they had plans for following expansion to Europe, like Sparta replacing Lev, but it has never happened because of political issues. These hypothetical teams would be of Jokerit level. So we would have more teams "in the "Kontinent" having an impact" to quote you. This EU expansion plans were stopped, but not abandonned. They needed a time out because of the following reasons, 1. who will pay for it? 2.negotiations with hockey federations (waiting for better political enviroment) & 3. what clubs are the best candidates for us (not a club for one or two seasons like Lev Poprad)?
Medvedev was a great "founding father", but he had to make compromise with the FHR, hence so many Russian teams. Without him, no league would be launched. Europeans have not been able to do that, because there has not been so powerful man with an influence to big bussinnes. And you can not launch such a big project without money, as we can see with the current CHL. At some point, Medvedev became a problem for the KHL expansion to Europe & development (financial aspect). Why? Because it became personal, European hockey officials did not agree with his vision (expansion to Europe) due to his personality. Another reason, his team was not good at sport marketing. So, new guy & team was needed. You can compare league´s marketing in Medvedev and Chernyshenko era by yourself. We have to wait for European expansion in Chernyshenko era, signals are that he (the league with him as President) will not accept "Lev2" teams. He wants financially strong clubs, with fanbase, top notch infrastructure (arena) & developped TV market. I can see only two countries for expansion - Germany & Switzerland. I do not think cities like Paris, London or Milan are priority for the KHL.
When you have everybody, it does not mean you are the best. Especially if clubs are not satisfied with your job & you do not have the best clubs on continent (KHL). That is about the CHL.