mooseOAK said:
I don't know, I don't see the European leagues wanting to spend a lot of money on 18 year old players just to develop them for the NHL. A 30 year old former NHL player at a reasonable cost will probably be more effective for them than a newly drafted player will at that young of an age.
To make a long rant short:
Perhaps... Perhaps not... No one knows... Not me... Not you... Not Bettman... We will see...
To make a short rant long:
As well documented by scientists, there exists an opposite equivalent for every direction or distance... With significant change of direction (like building a brand new economic landscape - especially as quickly and significantly as the NHL is looking to do - and reportedly close to being done), positives are not the
only possible outcomes (negatives are also possible)... With having rookie salaries strictly defined and capped, having agents trying to persuade young star players to play a few years in Europe is, IMO, a possible outcome… Chances are, some of these star players will go… especially the European players… The player agents can put together a compelling argument that by playing in Europe, you (the young star player) will be able to hone your skills playing against professional men… The new NHL is advertised to be skill oriented and high scoring – not defensive systems and low scoring… European hockey is known for its skill… Whereas before, I (the player agent) would recommend that you (the young star player) play in North America to learn the North American defensive system game, to succeed at a high level in the new promised NHL, you have to groom your skills… You can do this in Europe well, and you can do this for significantly more money (where I define significantly more money as being at least double what you can earn in North America)… After a few years, you will be good to go for the NHL and well on your way to realize your dream (as an early 20 year old – while having millions more in your bank account, and armed with real life experience living and breathing in another culture as a young adult – which is priceless)… In two short years as a young adult, you would have accomplished more than most do in their entire lives - and what you earn (financially and through experiences) in those years will last you a lifetime... For the ‘cream of the crop’ players, IMO, it’s not a far-fetched situation – nor an unattractive opportunity… Personally, I wouldn’t blame Crosby or any other player for considering and/or embracing it… And the European teams may even want Crosby and the other young star players – and thus, perhaps they are willing to pay significantly more than the NHL can in order to get them… The European teams have a taste now of getting NHL players (thanks to the lockout)… Some of these players were quite young (such as Nash)… Perhaps some of the European leagues have an appetite for more… And if these European teams were willing to take these players under the understanding that they may only be with the team for half a season (or less) – keeping them warm for the NHL, IMO, I think it's reasonable to assume that these European teams would also consider taking these players for a few years – keeping them warm for the NHL…
I don’t think that there would be a mass exodus of players leaving to Europe, but I personally wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘cream of the crop’ players (say the top 5 or so in each draft class), were being urged by their player agents to consider the European alternative… and I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a regular occurrence that some went that route…
This CBA (whatever the details are) has the potential to be both beautiful and ugly, kind and cruel... Every variety of existence between the teams and players cannot be accounted for... The CBA will
surely have points missing or miscalculated... Despite best intentions, loopholes
will exist... as the CBA is being created by humans, and humans are incapable of creating
perfect systems... since humans don't have the tools to measure anything to degrees of infinity... And even if humans could (which we can’t), Heisenberg’s principle of uncertainty would leave us with another factor that would be infinitely uncertain…
IMO, unforeseen, unwanted consequences are going to result from the quick implementation of this new, untested, man-made CBA - which is a
dramatic change… IMO, too much is being done too fast... but that's for a different post
Chances are, IMO, Crosby and/or other young star players may go to Europe to play (at least for a few years)… IMO, if this does happen, there are both positives and negatives to this, and that’s just the way it is…
I guess we'll see what happens in the next few months and coming years...