Former NY Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Nashville Predators forward Alexander Radulov are the two most notable names to sign with clubs this summer in Russia's new Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), a super-sized version of the old Russian Super League funded primarily by Russian oil billionaires, sparking concerns and debate over a potential talent drain from the NHL.
Find below a list (compiled by "Jarmac" of HFBoards.com) of former NHL'ers who've signed to play in the KHL next season and their new clubs.
Ak Bars Kazan: Wade Dubielewicz, Niko Kapanen
Atlant Mytischi: Ray Emery, Magnus Johansson
Amur Khabarovsk: Bryce Lampman, Kyle Wanvig
Avangard Omsk: John Grahame, Jaromir Jagr
Barys Astana: Josef Stumpel, Branislav Mezei, Kevin Dallman
CSKA Moscow: Ivan Khomutov
Dinamo Moscow: Karel Rachunek, Denis Tolpeko
Dinamo Riga: Marcel Hossa, Matt Ellison, Ronald Petrovicky, Duvie Westcott, Mark Hartigan
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Josef Vasicek
Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Karel Pilar
Salavat Yulaev UFA: Alexander Radulov, Steve McCarthy
Severstal Cherepovets: Joel Kwiatkowski
Sibir Novosibirsk:
SKA St. Petersburg: Andrei Zyuzin, Sergei Brylin
Spartak Moscow: Ivan Baranka, Branko Radivojevic, Stefan Ruzicka
Vityaz Podolsk: Chris Simon, Derrick Walser
Looking at this list, the biggest catches for the KHL remain a fading Jagr (who only signed with Avangard Omsk when the Rangers were unwilling to re-sign him to a multi-year contract and whose best seasons are now behind him) and a rising young talent in Radulov, who may not have been made fully aware of the implications of his signing (particularly in participating in international competition) and who hasn't ruled out a return to the NHL in the future.
The majority of players on this list are players with fading or marginal skills by NHL standards who were unable to land better deals with NHL teams and opted instead for the bigger bucks in Russia.
This doesn't account for much of a talent drain thus far for the NHL.
The Rangers aren't going to struggle without Jagr, as their signings last summer of Scott Gomez and Chris Drury clealry set the stage for Jagr's eventual departure.
Losing Radulov (who isn't likely to return this season despite a potential legal challenge by the NHL) is a blow for the Predators but not a fatal one. If their entire season rested on Radulov's performance they're in far worse shape than their critics believe. Replacing him won't be easy but adding depth via trade or free agency could soften the blow and fill in for some of the missing offense he would've provided.
As for the rest, their absence will have no signficant impact upon the caliber of play in the NHL this upcoming season.
That doesn't mean the NHL shouldn't take the KHL lightly. Just because they failed to sign away big name stars or more significant rising talent this summer doesn't mean they'll fail again next summer.
Of course that possibility flies out the window if the NHL, KHL and IIHF can hammer out a transfer agreement or at least maintain their recent agreement of not poaching away players under contract, an agreement currently in jeopardy in the wake of the Radulov signing.
Players currently under NHL entry level contracts or those just coming out of them will likely be the biggest targets for KHL clubs, and of course they're going to zero in specifically on Russian-born talent.
But if this summer is an indication of what the future might hold for potential signings by the KHL, it'll be little more than an irritant to the NHL and not a significant threat to its talent pool.
Spector,
Excellent scribble as always, there's something Dr. Strangelove creepy about a league that spells continental with a K anyway...let's face it these guys are the same type of fringe players that inhabit the Mexican League in baseball, and you're spot on, what does Jagr offer any team at this point except memories?
Besides I want to see who thinks Forsberg still has thirty-feet of ice time left in his brittle feet...
What i'd really like to know is how the KHL is going to survive financially. How did they suddenly gain all this money and how long are these Russian oil billionares willing to lose money?
As with all business investments, you have to put money into it before it starts coming back to you. But it'll be interesting to see how the Russian economy supports the league. It's awfully hard to predict just how Russia will react to this as the only comparable event was the opening of the RSL.
the guy was pretty dominant for the Rangers in the playoffs. He didnt have a great year numbers-wise, but in the playoffs he was better than a point per game, and was the only reason the Rangers had a chance.
I dont think the NHL has anything to worry about when it comes to losing talent to any other league however i do think that there will be bidding wars for young players coming outta junior hockey and thats where the NHL will fell it unless they change the entry level contract rules. But lets be honest must of the guys on that list are in russia cause they have to be!!!
Messier94: Like it or not, Jagr is a fading star. The NHL got his best over the last 17 seasons. The KHL is now getting a fading star who's already stated his intent of retiring in two years time. If Jagr were 26 instead of 36 and still in his playing prime his signing with the KHL would be huge. But he's not, and his signing with the KHL is not a great loss for the NHL.
I hear ya Spector. Jagr is obviously not the same player from 10 years ago, and not even the same as 3 years ago, but he still has tons of talent, and he was able to carry the Rangers.
Mostly, its edhardiman's comment that is waaaay off.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
