If that rule was actually changed some time ago why was the media silent then? It's common knowledge since forever KHL teams can have 6 imports. There haven't been any reports the rule was changed. It wasn't a topic of discussion in media or any kind of public arena. None of the other teams ever told they are considering a 7th import or have it. It was never even stated as an option, anywhere.
Instead of these paragraphs of nothingness can you provide me any evidence the import rule was indeed changed some time ago? If you don't like my "negative explanations" can you provide any other explanation based on some kind of actual facts or information? Because all you do now is talk about the cap which is absolutely irrelevant and furthermore, you state that I'm wrong but provide no alternative explanation of any kind.
Maybe I'm wrong, I'd love to know. But all your "arguments" are conjecture which could be used against you just the same.
Also, what does cap have to do with anything? You wrote 3 paragraphs about the topic which isn't remotely relevant to the issue at hand.
I used it as an example because people like to rant on some hockey officials without knowing facts or at least listening. So, I recommend to study the topic instead of writing the feelings.
The common knowledge is that Russian clubs can skate a maximum of five imports. Russian clubs can have just one foreign goalie. It is not limited how many imports a Russian team can list on season´s roster. Of course, it is not practical to have more imports than can play a game because some needs to sit in press-box and you need to pay them. But if your team is fine with it, and players are not rioting, you can have as many imports as you wish. Plus Kazakh & Belarussian citizens (passport) are not imports anymore, but it is not SKA case.
So, the rule on imports was amended last time on 22.11.2018, but it was just a formal modification. I will quote (article 41, 2.3 & 2.4 of Sport Reglement)
before 2018
2.3. В заявке команды на отдельно взятый Матч Чемпионата не может быть более пяти Хоккеистов-иностранцев;
2.4. В заявке команды на отдельно взятый Матч Чемпионата не может быть более одного вратаря-иностранца;
on 22.Nov 2018
2.3. В заявке команды на отдельно взятый Матч Чемпионата не может быть более пяти Хоккеистов в статусе «Иностранный Игрок»
2.4. В заявке команды на отдельно взятый Матч Чемпионата не может быть более одного вратаря в статусе «Иностранный Игрок»
As you can see the rules are the same, just the legal language changed.
I do not have access to CIB. But even the media came with other explanations. Simply the player re-signed a deal with a lower salary because SKA/CSKA would not be able to list these players on their roster, would be over the ceiling. Because I do not have access to CIB, I do not know. But my point is that there is another explanation to these you wrote. And they are more believable than yours.
And since we live in COVID times, and we know the player´s salary is not counted towards the cap in time of his recovering, the teams have more options with cap rules. But that is just my two cents.
