Hockey players start playing for the COLLEGE teams att he age of 18 the EARLIEST (many actually wait out in BCHL, USHL, and NAHL-type leagues and start their freshman season at the age of 20-21). This is the age talented Russian kids turn PRO.
Meaning that they were brought up from the EARLIEST of ages, 7-8, up all the way to their professional age. Nevermind that it's a lot of money to buy all the equipment for around 10 years, to fly all over Russia on tournaments, spend money on training, ice time, food, etc.. And nevermind the contracts that these players sign, which, if the player's talened enough, like Malkin, are quite generous for their ages. $1 million would not come close to reimbursing Metallurg Magnitogorsk for its star hockey player - nevermind actually giving them an EXTRA sum, like an incentive, to produce other great hockey players. Or else hockey schools are inherently devoid of any kind of profit. On the contrary.
remember, that just going outside and playing would not make any Russian kid a superstar. This is not Canada. A new study reveals that per-unit of population, the United States now has more adults playing hockey than Russia.