-Vintage Canuck- Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 General director Andrey Safronov thinks playing in Russia has become more desirable: Ilya Kovalchuk’s decision to “retire” and sign with KHL St. Petersburg sent shockwaves through the NHL. We’ve seen players, some of them very talented, bolt to the KHL before, but is it possible that other Russian stars inked to long-term contracts could attempt to follow in his footsteps? It sounds like that would be the case if Moscow Dynamo general director Andrey Safronov got his way. “[Alex] Ovechkin has a current contract with the Capitals. Can we try to pull him out? We’ll talk, we’ll look at each other and will have some result,” Safronov said, according to Russian Machine Never Breaks and CSN Washington. “Right now all Russian national team players want to come back to their homeland. KHL shows its force and credibility. And finances are important too. Taking taxes in account, playing in Russia has become way more attractive for players.” When Kovalchuk left, it was suggested that finances played a role. Specifically, what he would have been taxed in the United States compared to Russia. The lockout also influenced his decision. That being said, every situation is unique. Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Pavel Datsyuk all chose to sign extension with their respective NHL teams over the summer rather than head home. What Kovalchuk did makes Safronov’s comments more noteworthy, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that Alex Ovechkin is willing to seriously entertaining the possibility of attempting to terminate what’s left of his 13-year, $124 million contract with the Washington Capitals. It’s also worth emphasizing that although the Devils chose not to fight against Kovalchuk’s decision, they had the option to. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/01/report-khls-moscow-dynamo-interested-in-ovechkin/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I'm pretty sure every team in the KHL is interested in having Ovechkin on their team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Yeah... good luck with that. I could see Ovie going back to Russia near the end of his career for a few years, but I would be shocked if he didn't spend his prime in the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlsson`s Flo Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Report. Russian team wants Russian star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Vancouver Canucks are interested in Alex Ovechkin. (So does every other NHL team). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sestito Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I hate when people think it's a shock when these guys go to play where they were BORN and earn money that is TAX FREE. Id do the same thing if it meant me going back to my home land, and I can raise my kids there, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 This tax free thing is about as shocking as some older players taking money rich contracts in nearly tax free Florida. No shock really. Of course they'll ask. I think we can all agree we will see some Russian players not returning to the league after Sochi, probably no big names but definetly a few other notable fringe players Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxLapierreAwesomeFace Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Vancouver Canucks are interested in Alex Ovechkin. (So does every other NHL team). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Frk Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Oh Shocker....A KHL Team wants a Russian Star...What Else is new Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudson bay rules Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I hate when people think it's a shock when these guys go to play where they were BORN and earn money that is TAX FREE. Id do the same thing if it meant me going back to my home land, and I can raise my kids there, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remy Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I have a beer league team, we are interested in signing Alex Ovechkin. Breaking news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drouin Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Matter of time before they're interested in Malkin as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookieCrumbs Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Silliness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIC_CITY Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 You know what, I don't really have anything against Russian players going to the KHL even if they're under contract. That's part of the risk of drafting/acquiring Russians and if your team's GM doesn't see that risk and signs a guy to a 10+ year front loaded deal, he's the one to blame. There aren't many Teemu Selannes taking less playing professional sports these days. We're talking about millions of dollars here and if I'm the agent of a player like Kovalchuk, I'm laughing right now. People say Kesler, Bieksa, the Sedins all took hometome discounts but we're talking maybe about a mil each per player. Does anyone know the difference in Kovalchuks pay in the NHL/KHL? I bet you it's a lot more than a million/year! Plus he gets to play in his home country, every kids dream... Don't hate the player, hate the game! (And maybe the GM and capologist lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 What team wouldn't be interesting in Ovie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIC_CITY Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Maybe Ovie knows Obama and Putin got beef, Ovie has access to classified information and will seek asylum in the motherland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Breaking news, Russian league is interested in Russian star.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DollarAndADream Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 This is news? This "news" goes needless to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua59 Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 He's no good any way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. White Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Pointless thread is pointless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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