This all true, but why the hell then Blum keeps resigning with Admiral? Just pack your bags and leave after first season when the troubles were already evident.
I'm not sure. I can't speak for him in that regard. Money and opportunity? In his first year in the KHL he was named an All Star and was one of the league's best defensemen. He signed a 2 year deal after that first season, for a good dollar amount. This past season, he has been hit with a couple bad injuries (broken jaw, and broken elbow - two separate injuries). Still 1 more year on his contract. Will he move to a better marketed team? Maybe.
Yes probably we'll never know all the truth...
If it was REALLY like that, these teams wouldn't sign a single player... let alone foreigners with past NHL experience
It really is like that. It's okay for you to not believe me, though.
The KHL is run by dirty money. Are you aware of what business primarily funds the KHL? Oil. Are you familiar with foreign affairs, particularly the Russian Oil Sanctions? There's a lot more driving the wheel, here, than meets the eye. I agree.
With Trump and Putin 'seemingly' being 'friendly' or at least in somewhat amicable relations, and discussion and attempted motion in the removal of the sanctions on Russia, there is possibly room to discuss, theorize, presume, assume, plan for, whatever, that the KHL will thrive more under these conditions once Russia is able to profit more readily on fossil fuels. Who knows? Scary times.
Disclaimer: The above paragraph is 100% speculation.
My guess is that even half the salary in KHL easily trumps whatever they can get in full season anywhere else outside the NHL.
For some players, yes. Also, do not forget players have ambitions. Some guys want to be in a top pair role, have PP1 time, PK time, etc, and will look for teams which will land them that opportunity, as that might potentially land them a gig elsewhere in a bigger role or for a bigger paycheck. We also have plenty of history of players who have played for a bargain price and whom later were paid a nice contract after they are past their prime for being underpaid at their peak performance. There are X amount of variables at play here which we cannot even begin to assign value or labels to.
Lets not forget the KHL is a more skilled game than the AHL, which can and quite often does turn into a slugfest or goonfest on a whim, however you wish to put it. Career AHLers are cut from a different rug. Being "closer to home" might not be a viable argument in some cases.
Plus there's been comments by players (even Finnish) over the years who commented anonymously that some bonuses, if not even salaries, are paid in cash in "bags" under the table.
Haha.
They love giving cash. Manilla envelopes full of cash. How professional.
Manilla envelopes with JUST under $10,000 in cash. I've seen them.
WuTang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.