I don't get the "overpaid" stuff. At all. Teams pay the players what they think they are worth. If teams think a player costs too much, then don't sign him.
Agree with the thesis. The point is that Russian players have guaranteed KHL spots because of foreigner limit. They do not have to earn their contract, they will always get one in other teams. Of course, GM can say: "you are not worth the money, I will not sign you." A player replies: "fine, I am going to another KHL club." The problem is that there is not so many options on the market for the 1st GM, so he has to sign a player even he is not worth it. That is not my fantasy, all Russian hockey officials talk about it. The problem starts with youth hockey, Russia is not able to produce world class players en masse. Yes, there is a few world class players in every birth year, but vast majority of the prospects are average. Of course the exodus of prospects to America/Canada does not help ... that is around hundred prospects per year.
Russia won't turn into America (GDP wise) overnight, in one year or in 20 years. The economy is different, and they need to accept that. In Moscow and Leningrad live a lot of people, mostly are healthier than in other cities of Russia, yet it's hard to think that any league in any country of the world can really work with only 2 cities involved.
Agree with GDP. The KHL is not and will not be about 2 cities - if all goes well, there should be 14 Russian teams from 12-14 Russian cities, including both capitals, North West, South, Ural, Sibir & Far East.
Again, having more teams and not just two doesn't mean that the KHL will be weaker. Quite the contrary, IMHO. Kunlun and Medvescak are better than Novokuznetsk or Cherepovets? I mean on ice, of course those two teams had/have a lot of potential that is of course positive to attract these cities/markets in. But having Neftekhimik and Severstal (just to name two random teams) in, doesn't mean that Kunlun or Medvescak have to go.
Of course, the league can be stronger with more teams. But those teams must be competitive - sport & financial wise. There must be fan interest & infrastructure too. Can you imagine Neftekhimik or Seva to build 12k arenas soon? If the league wants to develop, big arenas must be there. You can argue with Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Magnitka, Amur or Admiral. All have 7-8k arenas which is not ideal. On the other hand, Magnitka and Ufa are powerhouses of Russian hockey. Neftekhimik & Seva are not. Chelyabinsk, besides great hockey school, has 1 million inhabitants. Amur & Admiral are on Far East, expansion to Asia. That is why those teams will stay in the league regardless small arenas.
The main reason why smaller Russian clubs need to go is a bussiness. The league bussiness will be healthier without them. I would have no problem if the league stayed with 16 Russian teams instead of planned 14. If only Russian clubs to go ... on the other hand, I fully support an exclusion of Lada, Yugra, Seva, Vityaz, Nefktekimik.
Blaming one person for everything is of course wrong but ON ICE the Medvedev's era was better. Much better. And if you don't have a good league on ice, then off ice is not going to last. The DEL is a good league off ice (but better than the KHL? I am not sure), on ice is definitely not. I don't think that Russia should trade the KHL with the DEL just because.
There is more reasons for it, I will name a few. The sanctions was not there = more stronger foreign teams (Slovan, Lev Prague, Donbass) consisting of non-Russian players = European leagues offering good players.
If we look at teams roster, the KHL has had the most Russian teams (22) in Chernyshenko era. To be fair, he inhereted it. He did not accept new Russian teams (only replacing Atlant with Spartak). Coincidentally the decrease has been seen during a time when there is the most Russian teams ever. Is Chernyshenko responsible for it? What would happen if Medvedev stayed & sanctions would happen? Would the league keep the previous level? Would there be more parity? Russians realise that the system has problems. Unfortunatelly they are not able to fix the system during good years, they always start to fix the system during a crisis. Actual crisis has showed it, for example a structure of Russian exports. The KHL is the same, I will mention revenue sharing to give you na example. All talked about it since 2008, but nothing has happened ... until crisis. I can go on with red numbers of the league, or clubs debts.