I think perhaps there's a financial side of this that could explain why he's having second thoughts about leaving if my understanding is correct. In a way he lucked out by staying in the US this past year. By staying put however he will have earned an extra 12.5 million. With the value of the ruble falling to 70:1 it becomes a little bit of a prediction game. Of course many economists see the economy over there taking another blow in the next 12 months. If he leaves now he could cash in his earnings for 1.19 billion rubles, however, if the rate were to fall to 3x what it was when he signed the contract, he could trade in his paycheck for 2.025 billion rubles. Essentially it becomes an investment game and he would be investing in the power of the dollar. Now, if Holland goes through the IIHF to block his ability to participate in the KHL, or limits him to a few low salary teams he could be playing for less than the NHL minimum wage next year. If the question were posed to me, play hockey for less than the NHL minimum wage or just less than a billion rubles, I'm not sure it would be a hard decision. This also doesn't include money he might make through other channels in the states by staying another year. Now, he absolutely doesn't need more money, and time with your family is no doubt priceless, however, the incentive could perhaps be there as well as the old "be a man, finish what you started" and fanbase/legacy pressure to make him reconsider leaving. These are just my rough thoughts though, they could be inaccurate.