European players

[MojoJojo]

Just to get a discussion going. If we impose a hard cap like the owners want, will we continue to attract the same level of player to the NHL? If a young Russian, say Ovechkin, is offered a contract making comparable money in Russia vs the NHL maximum rookie contract, why would he want to play in North America?

Many here would like nothing better than to see the NHL's European players leave, the Don Cherry's of HF. But seriously, with all the expansion teams, we barely have enough talent to fill thirty NHL teams with decent quality players as it is. The European leagues are still pretty far from being able to compensate their players like the NHL, but they have been getting better and better.

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[txpd]

Just to get a discussion going. If we impose a hard cap like the owners want, will we continue to attract the same level of player to the NHL? If a young Russian, say Ovechkin, is offered a contract making comparable money in Russia vs the NHL maximum rookie contract, why would he want to play in North America?

Many here would like nothing better than to see the NHL's European players leave, the Don Cherry's of HF. But seriously, with all the expansion teams, we barely have enough talent to fill thirty NHL teams with decent quality players as it is. The European leagues are still pretty far from being able to compensate their players like the NHL, but they have been getting better and better.

I wonder a little bit if the manditory reduction in first year contracts down to $850k might make signing Ovechkin in particular very difficult, but in general terms European league salaries are not remotely competitive with NHL pay. most NHL $1.5m players would get well under a million in any european league. I wouldnt worry about that part much.

 

[Jack Canuck]

Just to get a discussion going. If we impose a hard cap like the owners want, will we continue to attract the same level of player to the NHL? If a young Russian, say Ovechkin, is offered a contract making comparable money in Russia vs the NHL maximum rookie contract, why would he want to play in North America?

Many here would like nothing better than to see the NHL's European players leave, the Don Cherry's of HF. But seriously, with all the expansion teams, we barely have enough talent to fill thirty NHL teams with decent quality players as it is. The European leagues are still pretty far from being able to compensate their players like the NHL, but they have been getting better and better.

I would think that players like Ovechkin would be willing to play at whatever the minimum rooky salary is to have a shot at the bigger money that comes later.

 

[MojoJojo]

I would think that players like Ovechkin would be willing to play at whatever the minimum rooky salary is to have a shot at the bigger money that comes later.

Under a hard cap the bigger money later might never materialize. Under a hard cap of 31 million which is what the league wants, getting 3 or 4 million would be as big as the money would get. Ovechkin would still probably not get that in Russia, but would he have to wait until he's thirty years old before he could out earn what he makes at home?

 

[Buffaloed]

Just to get a discussion going. If we impose a hard cap like the owners want, will we continue to attract the same level of player to the NHL? If a young Russian, say Ovechkin, is offered a contract making comparable money in Russia vs the NHL maximum rookie contract, why would he want to play in North America?

They'll stay in Europe until they can get a significantly better offer from the NHL. It won't only affect European players. If AK-Bars offers Sidney Crosby $3 million and the most the NHL team that drafts him can offer is $850K where's he going to sign? That's going to be an issue for every top prospect. It's fine with me if they play in Europe for a few years. Under the current entry level system, rookie salaries fall under the cap until they're age 25. That has to be reduced to age 22-23 if there's a new hard rookie cap of $850K. Otherwise, NHL teams won't be able to make a competitive offer to players that have blossomed into stars.