KHL Season 2018/2019

[Albatros]

The Soviet league was terrible, with CSKA almost guaranteed to win and no one outside Moscow being able to even challenge.

 

[Rcknrollkillnmachine]

If Jokerit, Riga and Slovan feel they will never have a shot at glory then the big spenders will affectively contract the league due to those non-Russisn teams' (for example) own choice to exit.

The disparity in soccer is awful and only encourages glory hunting casual fans rather than getting behind their local team or others that need the support. Same for KHL as the spending sprees will keep the league destabilised with teams coming (entering with high hopes) and going (finding the whole thing a pointless effort). A cap is definitely needed.

Just my opinion.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Look at EPL, Premiera, Bundesliga - it's always the same teams, that compete for the top spots, and the tournaments are still very popular. It's just the nature of European professional leagues to have a lot of disparity. I'd say, though, if the KHL had like 12 teams, like the Soviet Highest League, the tournament could be way more interesting, but it won't happen.

Well, the league format is different that's why Leicester won the EPL in 2016. It's more wide open by default because every game carries the exact same value. Bundesliga was won by Bremen, Wolfsburg, Stuttgart and Dortmund in addition to Bayern winning it over the last 15 years or so. Also, the football system works in a way that the 4th place, for example, is actually very rewarding.

With hockey playoff format that's not the case.

Furthermore, it's not about disparity itself, it's about how ridiculous it is. Karpov, Rundblad and Kruchinin just signed 2-way deals that will allow them to be sent down to the VHL. These guys would be the best players on half of the teams in the league and they just signed 2-way deals so SKA wouldn't have to share the wealth and risk losing them on waivers. How long can this go on?

 

[powerplaymaker]

Furthermore, it's not about disparity itself, it's about how ridiculous it is. Karpov, Rundblad and Kruchinin just signed 2-way deals that will allow them to be sent down to the VHL. These guys would be the best players on half of the teams in the league and they just signed 2-way deals so SKA wouldn't have to share the wealth and risk losing them on waivers. How long can this go on?

The system is f***ed up. There is always a way to bend the rules. Atleast if you got the money.

KHL must change the rule regarding these 2-way players. There sholud be a salary limit for 2-way players and limit for max money spent on 2-way deals in one team.

KHL is also about to introduce the hard salary cap for the next season or so. I'm sure the rich ones find their way around those rules too. Everything should be transparent and public but that is just a dream in the land of oligarchs and corruption...

 

[Jussi]

Look at EPL, Premiera, Bundesliga - it's always the same teams, that compete for the top spots, and the tournaments are still very popular. It's just the nature of European professional leagues to have a lot of disparity. I'd say, though, if the KHL had like 12 teams, like the Soviet Highest League, the tournament could be way more interesting, but it won't happen.

EPL though is the most even, with 6 clubs fairly close to each other these days (barring another season like City had last season). Spain is dominated by Barca and Real, France by PSG, Germany by Bayern and Italy by Juventus. But in most other leagues the disparity isn't that wide.

 

[Kshahdoo]

EPL though is the most even, with 6 clubs fairly close to each other these days (barring another season like City had last season). Spain is dominated by Barca and Real, France by PSG, Germany by Bayern and Italy by Juventus. But in most other leagues the disparity isn't that wide.

Don't forget about Portugal and Holland. Take any European league with some money and stability, it's always the same 2-4 teams, that compete for titles.

 

[cska78]

The Soviet league was terrible, with CSKA almost guaranteed to win and no one outside Moscow being able to even challenge.

I agree, that it wasn't fair, but terrible, really?

Dinamo Riga had spurts of being good.

 

[Jussi]

Don't forget about Portugal and Holland. Take any European league with some money and stability, it's always the same 2-4 teams, that compete for titles.

Yes but as was said earlier, qualifying for UCL can be considered a "winning season" these days. But the fans have begun to show their displeasure at the disparity in many leagues, mostly complaining online though.

 

[Rigafan]

. KHL should be looking to improve lesser teams by increasing revenues and sharing them equally. Implement an actual salary cap, help clubs earn more money, put some restrictive measures to prevent them from going on spending sprees etc... Telling teams that they will now get 2pts instead of 3pts doesn't make the league any more competitive

Hey hansomreiste!

I agree to an extent that the league should do more and make more ideas on how to balance the playing field. The league is still very young though and especially the revenue sharing, that is being worked on each season it seems.

I have to respectfully disagree on the league helping clubs earn more money. In the sense that, the majority of teams are owned by either 1. very rich man or 2. very rich businesses. Its not SKA's (usual targets) fault that they actually market their team, work on their brand, promote on social media well etc. Sure they sign players to the VHL who could be local stars in say, Vityaz but then shouldn't Vityaz or X team actually sort themselves out?

We are seeing this VERY SLOWLY.
Avangard announced plans to make their brand and all good news, unfortunate set back with the arena though.
Neftekhimik rebranded at least a few seasons ago and tried to recruit better
Avto are trying to build a strong team that can compete
Spartak Moscow have risen from the dead and have some great media and exposure for their fans etc. Simple things like having an online store for your merch or posting to social media with updates and things to keep fans entertained. It seems rather lost in 99% of the Russian teams. Yet SKA do an excellent job, win, then get blamed for it all.

Most of these fringe teams are in HUGE cities that could produce massive fan bases and support but it needs to be captured by the people in charge.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Sure they sign players to the VHL who could be local stars in say, Vityaz but then shouldn't Vityaz or X team actually sort themselves out?

They signed the guys who were stars on Zurich (current NLA champions) and Traktor (who reached conference finals last year) to the VHL. How should those teams "sort themselves out" even more?

 

[Rigafan]

They signed the guys who were stars on Zurich (current NLA champions) and Traktor (who reached conference finals last year) to the VHL. How should those teams "sort themselves out" even more?

Yes its ridiculous but it takes time doesn't it. We won't see the KHL turn into a league like the with balance like the NHL overnight (I know you know this anyway as you are well informed!) but teams have to start making the league work for them too.

 

[Ducks76]

Hey hansomreiste!

I agree to an extent that the league should do more and make more ideas on how to balance the playing field. The league is still very young though and especially the revenue sharing, that is being worked on each season it seems.

I have to respectfully disagree on the league helping clubs earn more money. In the sense that, the majority of teams are owned by either 1. very rich man or 2. very rich businesses. Its not SKA's (usual targets) fault that they actually market their team, work on their brand, promote on social media well etc. Sure they sign players to the VHL who could be local stars in say, Vityaz but then shouldn't Vityaz or X team actually sort themselves out?

We are seeing this VERY SLOWLY.
Avangard announced plans to make their brand and all good news, unfortunate set back with the arena though.
Neftekhimik rebranded at least a few seasons ago and tried to recruit better
Avto are trying to build a strong team that can compete
Spartak Moscow have risen from the dead and have some great media and exposure for their fans etc. Simple things like having an online store for your merch or posting to social media with updates and things to keep fans entertained. It seems rather lost in 99% of the Russian teams. Yet SKA do an excellent job, win, then get blamed for it all.

Most of these fringe teams are in HUGE cities that could produce massive fan bases and support but it needs to be captured by the people in charge.

The KHL has too much teams! 18 teams could be better!

 

[malkinfan]

My prediction is SU for the cup this year. I think they will have the best offense and reliable goaltending to carry them. PPLine 1 Hartikainen-Omark-Fedorov (+4th forward Larsen). PPLine 2 Tkachev-Burdasov-(Kempainen or Kugryshev). Killed it in preseason

 

[Rigafan]

The KHL has too much teams! 18 teams could be better!

I agree also. Less teams would make it much more interesting

 

[Faterson]

Disagree. The more teams, especially international ones, the better, the more interesting. The KHL should have at least as many teams as the NHL does.

 

[SoundAndFury]

As long as teams have money to be competitive there should be as many of them as possible. Having said that KHL would retract to 12 teams, more or less.

 

[Go Donbass]

Anyone else think Slovan is going to struggle this year? Magnitogorsk up 3-0 after the first period.

 

[SoundAndFury]

For sure, like I said before, they have a roster which would be nothing special in Czech Extraliga, nevermind the KHL.

 

[Alklha]

SKA leading 3-2 and have two penalties called on them on the same sequence. Refs realise what they have done so just give Torpedo an interference penalty to avoid the 2 minute 5-on-3.

Edit: Great comeback from Torpedo in the last 3 minutes to win 4-3.

 

[Go Donbass]

SKA leading 3-2 and have two penalties called on them on the same sequence. Refs realise what they have done so just give Torpedo an interference penalty to avoid the 2 minute 5-on-3.

Edit: Great comeback from Torpedo in the last 3 minutes to win 4-3.

This was one of those games that reminds you, why you love hockey. Great game, great atmosphere.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Sochi, meanwhile, is losing home opener to Admiral. Combined with their pre-season record, I'm getting concerned about them. They look flat out bad.

 

[vorky]

The guy deserves a post.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Pretty amazing ending of a career for a guy who never played major-junior, didn't get recruited by NCAA top division college and after graduating had to spend 2.5 years in the ECHL. Feel kinda bad he didn't get to play at least one game in the NHL.

 

[vorky]

Pretty amazing ending of a career for a guy who never played major-junior, didn't get recruited by NCAA top division college and after graduating had to spend 2.5 years in the ECHL. Feel kinda bad he didn't get to play at least one game in the NHL.

Even such guys have a chance to become a legend. There is a world outside America.

 

[klooo2power]

Anyone know of a site which tracks up to date season attendance numbers across the league? I know how to find this info for each game but looking for aggregation.

This might be the year KHL gets in front of the Swiss for average attendance: Attendance 2017-2018