European Hockey
These are exciting times for European hockey. With all of the talk of expansion in the NHL to Europe, and of a new Russian proffesional hockey league, it seems that Europe hockey is just about ready to strike gold. But this could also mean tough times for the NHL and its players.
Look at it this way: If the Russian hockey league gets serious, than the NHL may be pressured into expanding into Europe to protect some of its top European players from joining with the Russian league. If they didn’t expand at that point they could lose players like Nabokov, Kovalchuk, Afinogenov, Khabibulin, Zubov, Datsyuk, Frolov, Kovalev, Markov, and Ovechkin, just to name a few. Not to mention the Russian prospects of NHL teams, or the other players from other parts of Europe who may feel a little bit home sick. And it would be easy for the Russian league to pluck these players from the NHL beause they wont honour NHL contracts. So, why not expand to Europe and not take the chance of losing these players? Well cause remember the lockout? It could happen again. If the NHL expanded to Europe then the NHLPA would fight it because of the strain on the players that go to these European teams, or the North American players who get drafted by these teams.
So why does my article say “thumbs up” then? Because if this Russian league comes to be then it will push the NHL into things like a higher salary cap, or none at all. Or it will push the NHL into showcasing better hockey without all of these panzy referee calls. Just think of the possibilities! Plus, if the Russian league gets big, it may be broadcasted in NA. I for one would watch this Russian league, because I would be intrigued. And then think of the multiculturism in Canada, and how many Europeans in Canada would watch this. This league could mean big things for hockey in general, not just European.
So for the growth of European hockey I give a thumbs up.