KHL Trades, Rumors and Free Agent Talk Part 6

[vorky]

Do you have a list of these clubs? Would be very interesting to see.

#NHL rink size
SKA, Amur, Admiral, Dynamo Msc, Barys & HK Sochi

#Finnish rink size
Severstal, Ak Bars, Metallurg Mg, Neftekhimik, Vityaz, Sibir, CSKA & Spartak

#Classic IIHF rink size
Salavat Yulaev, KRS, Traktor, Torpedo, Jokerit, Lokomotiv & Dinamo Riga

#Considering smaller surface (NHL or Finnish)
Avtomobilist, Avangard & Dinamo Minsk

You have a 24 clubs league, with 14 teams using smaller ice already. It is a matter of time when all clubs switch to the smaller ice. The league even changing rules to be closer to the NHL - like offensive zone, this territory for goalie behind the goal (see).

 

[Exarz]

The league even changing rules to be closer to the NHL - like offensive zone, this territory for goalie behind the goal (see).

Is this a confirmed change?

 

[vorky]

Is this a confirmed change?

If you mean official like approved by KHL BoD, then not (meeting is in July). But it will be approved, see (in Russian only).

Первый – появится трапециевидная зона за воротами. Только в ней сможет играть голкипер при выходе из ворот за лицевой линией. Игра за воротами этой зоны будет наказываться малым штрафом.

I will not translate it because I do not know the exact English term for it.

Another change (also I do not know the English term)

Второе изменение: лицевая линия будет сдвинута к борту на 65 сантиметров. То есть вместо четырёх метров теперь будет 3 метра 35 сантиметров.

looks like less space between goalie line and boards behind the goal?

 

[Section Netherlands]

#NHL rink size
SKA, Amur, Admiral, Dynamo Msc, Barys & HK Sochi

#Finnish rink size
Severstal, Ak Bars, Metallurg Mg, Neftekhimik, Vityaz, Sibir, CSKA & Spartak

#Classic IIHF rink size
Salavat Yulaev, KRS, Traktor, Torpedo, Jokerit, Lokomotiv & Dinamo Riga

#Considering smaller surface (NHL or Finnish)
Avtomobilist, Avangard & Dinamo Minsk

You have a 24 clubs league, with 14 teams using smaller ice already. It is a matter of time when all clubs switch to the smaller ice. The league even changing rules to be closer to the NHL - like offensive zone, this territory for goalie behind the goal (see).

Thanks for the great reply. I like the Finnish size, but not a fan of the NHL size. Regarding Scherbak, it makes me less optimistic knowing Avangard is considering change. But still a good player in KHL, would be my prediction.

 

[vorky]

Thanks for the great reply. I like the Finnish size, but not a fan of the NHL size. Regarding Scherbak, it makes me less optimistic knowing Avangard is considering change. But still a good player in KHL, would be my prediction.

Regarding the considering teams (Avto, Avangard, Minsk) - it just means they have not announced the rink-size for the upcoming season. Avto & Avangard would have some problems with changing the rink-size due to old venues, so it would be too expensive and ineffective because both clubs will move to new venues sooner than later. So, why to invest in the old arena?

Traktor also considers the smaller ice but definitely not this off-season.

One Russian journalist claims it was the Russian hockey federation who lobbied for the NHL rink-size at IIHF events. Naturally, we have heard about the idea for many years in the KHL. And the KHL is a sole league in Europe, who can switch the rink-size without serious problems in a short time. I mean the elimination of too extra costs for upgrading the (old) venues. Yes, the costs are evident, but the KHL clubs are fine with it. Especially when a few new venues are built, they are projected for all three sizes. Honestly, I can not imagine the massive rink-size in Czech rep for example, nobody would finance it. And who knows if it is even possible (old venues).

 

[teddygmr]

Where will Teemu Hartikainen Play this season???

 

[vorky]

Where will Teemu Hartikainen Play this season???

He has a contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa

 

[SoundAndFury]

Where will Teemu Hartikainen Play this season???

He extended his contract for 1 more year during the last PO. Also, as an interesting tidbit aside, SYu talked about the intentions to retire his number after he leaves.

 

[cska78]

Larionov's son on try out with SKA...Does Riga want to sign him afterwards and may be Tikhonov as well?

 

[ozo]

Larionov's son on try out with SKA...Does Riga want to sign him afterwards and may be Tikhonov as well?

No no, our social obligation is supporting Tretiak's grandson.

 

[cska78]

No no, our social obligation is supporting Tretiak's grandson.

 

[MilesNewton]

Any chance that they sign any NHL players?

 

[Omark]

Any chance that they sign any NHL players?

There won’t be NHL level players in the KHL anymore - because of the new salary cap..

 

[Caser]

Any chance that they sign any NHL players?

There won’t be NHL level players in the KHL anymore - because of the new salary cap..

Well, it's a bit of exagerration, in this thread I'm actually trying to keep track on NHL-to-KHL transactions: Confirmed Signing with Link: - NHL-to-KHL Free Agent Transfer Thread

 

[Nino33]

Well, it's a bit of exagerration, in this thread I'm actually trying to keep track on NHL-to-KHL transactions: Confirmed Signing with Link: - NHL-to-KHL Free Agent Transfer Thread

If you're listing every possible player who played (however briefly) in the NHL you have NHL to KHL movement, but how many of the players you listed would the typical fan actually think are "NHL players"?



First post in that thread, first guy listed going from the NHL to the KHL played 7 NHL games last year and 25 KHL games - 4 points in 33 total games over two years in the NHL (during the same time period he played 35 KHL games).

Next guy played 1 game in the NHL last year and 52 in the AHL (isn't that AHL to KHL movement?). 28 years old and he's played 37 NHL games (over the last 2 years, getting 8 points)

Next guy is 27 years old and played 27 NHL games last year (his only year in NA)

Next guy listed is 25 and played his only NHL games (5) two years ago! finishing the season in Finland. Last year he played the whole year in Switzerland...but he's listed as an NHL to KHL player



Technically they are "NHL players" because they had a "cup of coffee" in the NHL, and I don't dispute that...but I suspect that's not what people are wondering when they think about NHL to KHL players.

Are AHL players or players on loan and playing Europe (or players who were really AHL players or briefly fringe NHLers or briefly trying out) really NHL level players?

 

[Omark]

I meant players who would get 1-way NHL deal but decide to turn it down in order to play in the KHL. These guys don't exist anymore.

But this is what many KHL fans wanted - including Finnish crybabies.. Prevent big teams to use their money and therefore have tight games. Yes, games will be tighter now because every team is garbage and have zero interesting star level players.

 

[SoundAndFury]

The last NHL player to go to the KHL was Sobotka. And it was 5 years ago. So let's not act like salary cap changes anything. KHL hasn't been an attractive option for NHL players for years. A lot of it has to do with ever-rising NHL salaries, a lot with KHL internal troubles.

"I meant players who would get 1-way NHL deal but decide to turn it down in order to play in the KHL" - did those exist, ever? Zuccarello, Hudler, etc. They all came because of contract disputes.

 

[hansomreiste]

I meant players who would get 1-way NHL deal but decide to turn it down in order to play in the KHL. These guys don't exist anymore.

But this is what many KHL fans wanted - including Finnish crybabies.. Prevent big teams to use their money and therefore have tight games. Yes, games will be tighter now because every team is garbage and have zero interesting star level players.

First of all, salary cap will not be $70 so KHL teams still have more than enough budget to attract decent players, most of whom would not be NHL-level anyways, as SoundAndFury stated. Anyone comparing this league to NHL is delusional. Personally speaking, I couldn't care less about NHL. It's a different beast. I don't want the main league I follow to turn into a SKA-CSKA race where everyone else is left with nothing to play for just because SKA may get some NHL-level player in the long run, which is not exciting at all unless you support them anyway.

With salary cap implemented, you can have 10 to 12 decent teams that may have a shot at the title. You can have real pairings at conference semi-finals where winner is not decided before series even start. This is bad just because KHL teams won't be able to sign players from NHL? How much have they done this so far, anyways?

KHL can't pay as much as NHL and it has no tools to compete with it unless Russia somehow becomes a global superpower where some local guy from Chelyabinsk can afford to pay $80 for a single hockey game. Up until that point, comparisons make no sense at all and the focus should be on creating a more stable and competitive environment for all KHL teams.

Salary cap is designed to prevent rich clubs from stealing players as they please and creating a huge disparity. However, it is kind enough to let every single team have a really decent set of players. I'm sure anyone following the league would be pleased with this. You're speaking as if NHL players were intent to flock to KHL but new salary cap doesn't allow that... No, without salary cap, KHL would be unbearable to watch, with same teams meeting at conference and then Gagarin Cup finals year in and year out. With salary cap, it has potential to be a "decent" league with at least five to six teams which can be relevant and this should be the plan: be a decent league. Anything above that line is unrealistic and makes no sense.

 

[Jussi]

I meant players who would get 1-way NHL deal but decide to turn it down in order to play in the KHL. These guys don't exist anymore.

But this is what many KHL fans wanted - including Finnish crybabies.. Prevent big teams to use their money and therefore have tight games. Yes, games will be tighter now because every team is garbage and have zero interesting star level players.

Damn fiscal responsibility!

 

[SoundAndFury]

Drew Shore and Gragnani to Minsk. Well those guys are legitimately decent, should keep Minsk afloat. I feel there are few teams that should go into the season with the "we aren't even the worst team in the conference" quest and Minsk looks pretty set to take on this challenge.

 

[amoboko]

How did Niemi play yesterday? He allowed two goals but the Jokers still got the victory

 

[CPFC]

How did Niemi play yesterday? He allowed two goals but the Jokers still got the victory

First goal was a weird bounce of an own player but the second one was pretty weak, Niemi was beaten by a wrap-around while moving quite slowly from post to post. Rest of the shots were mostly from the perimeter and didn't really bother Niemi.

 

[Treb]

What do you all think of Andrei Markov? Is he still good or is he done? Is he still NHL level or even KHL level at this point?

 

[SoundAndFury]

What do you all think of Andrei Markov? Is he still good or is he done? Is he still NHL level or even KHL level at this point?

He is specialist-type at this point. At ES he is mid-pair D in the KHL and maybe, just maybe he could still survive on the bottom pair in the NHL. He is a smart player, maybe he could adapt his game enough to play that role.
If I were an NHL GM I wouldn't count on him to be anything anymore. Maybe mentor for some young Russian D but I don't think any team is in need of one.

 

[takesthebiscuit96]

Odds on Ovechkin coming back to the KHL? Would be great to see him back on the ice here