The other day, there was a report that the newly formed Kontinental Hockey League in Russia offered Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar Evgeni Malkin $12.5 million tax-free per year for many years to come back home to Russia to play hockey.
Malkin's agent said that the report was true, but that Malkin never had any desire to return to his homeland.
Many people are worried that the new KHL is going to lure a number of NHLers over to Russia because they are able to pay the players more than the NHL could ever pay them.
"At this point, it's not a major concern," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said at the conclusion of the league's draft in Ottawa on Saturday. "We understand there's going to be a league. We'll see what impact it has. So far, it hasn't really had a major effect on us."
"That's not what he's interested in doing," Malkin's agent J.P. Barry said. "If this were all about money, he would go to Russia, because he could make more in Russia than he ever could in the NHL. Evgeni's decision is he wants to stay in Pittsburgh."
The KHL is going to replace the former Russian Super League. It is going to have 24 teams, and the inaugural season will begin this coming September. Chris Simon and John Grahame have already said that they want to play in the league in its first season.
"My goodness, it's a big decision for Malkin," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "Financially, it's incredible. You get a chance to go back to your home country. On the other side of it, you get to play with one of the best players in the National Hockey League in Crosby...In some ways, it's overwhelming, to be honest with you."
My personal opinion is that Malkin did not have to think twice before declining this offer. If I were in his position, I would not even think about going to Russia. It is a country in which Malkin would not get much freedom, and the difference between the $7 million-$8 million that he will be getting in his next contract and the $12.5 he'll make in Russia is not much, especially since staying here means he gets to continue playing in Pittsburgh with Crosby and Co.
Malkin will surely win a few Stanley Cups in his career, especially if he stays with the Penguins. He is a fantastic player, and is smart enough to stay in the NHL, the best hockey league in the world.
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3 months ago
'If I were a rich man...da da da da do dee da da da da da da."
from 3 months ago
oh u and ur jew references...you kill me greg lol
from 3 months ago
Mazel Tov to your article of the day yesterday!
;)
3 months ago
I agree with you. This decision was a no-brainer for Malkin. After going to so much effort just to escape from Russia, why the $@%# would he want to go back? Especially since things wouldn't be very friendly for him because he breached his contract, at least according to the Russians.
from 3 months ago
I agree with that 100% josh
from 3 months ago
Money talks and nobody walks....
3 months ago
alright, i like malkin's level of skill, but something happened to him during the playoffs. i think it was during the philly series and throughout the deadwing series that he began to remind me of jagr --and not in a good way. i thought malkin looked sluggish, the way jagr would if he wasn't getting the breaks.
great article btw.
from 3 months ago
there was indeed something wrong with malkin, and pierre mcguire confirmed that on NHL XM Home Ice, but he wouldn't say what. idk if it was an injury or a personal problem or what, but mcguire said before game six that malkin was better and that he would start performing, and he did score a goal in that game. but something happened to him during the philly series indeed, and that is a known fact. its just that no one knows what happened.
3 months ago
agreed. malkin's game 6 performance was reminiscent of the earlier series. i wondered if he got his bell rung too many times in the philly series that may of lead to his drop off. but he still lost his step in the finals---> errant passes, weak attempts at chasing the puck.
3 months ago
yeah unfortunately...
3 months ago
great article alan...i didnt expect him to even think about this either
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