Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

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...

Pittsburgh Penguins: Evgeni Malkin Not Going To KHL

by Alan Bass (Senior Writer)

11

1,640 reads

Opinion

June 22, 2008


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.

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

11 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Greg Caggiano about 1 year ago

    'If I were a rich man...da da da da do dee da da da da da da."

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  2. Josh Lewis about 1 year 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.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  3. jon crook about 1 year 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.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Alan Bass about 1 year 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.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  4. jon crook about 1 year 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.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Alan Bass about 1 year ago

    yeah unfortunately...

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  6. Chris Farley about 1 year ago

    great article alan...i didnt expect him to even think about this either

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • About the Author Alan Bass (senior writer)

    • 388 articles written
    • 2925 comments posted
    • 198 fans

    Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.