From Russia with Love; RADAL heads back to home country

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In a situation as intriguing as a spy movie. He signed a deal with a Russian Super League team despite having a year left on his contract with the Predators.

Link

[SiteWolf]

Despite yesterday's agreement between the leagues, eh?

How much effect do you guys think this is all having on the NHL's health?

And where are these guys coming up with their money?!

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Originally Posted by SiteWolf

Despite yesterday's agreement between the leagues, eh?

How much effect do you guys think this is all having on the NHL's health?

And where are these guys coming up with their money?!

If the dollar continues to weaken compared to the Euro, and with a good chunk of the players from Europe (Sweden, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia in particular), that might affect the salaries overseas teams offer NHL players and you might see Russian teams doing what the NHL did in the MALEV situation when he was drafted, effectively poaching players. The upside to that situation is that the loonie is now stronger so that Canadian teams are stronger than they were in the mid-90s when you had teams like Winnipeg and Quebec being forced to move south of the border, and I wouldnt be surprised to see a couple of the sun belt teams eventually being moved to Winnipeg and/or southern Ontario (and perhaps Seattle to move in where the Sonics left a void and set up a natural rivalry with Vancouver).

From the article:

it was unlikely that the Predators would be able to demand his return to North America, as the NHL had no transfer agreement with either the Russian Superleague or the new Continental Hockey League at the time.

As for where the money comes from when dealing with Russian owners...do you really want to know? There are quite a few oil barons and other industrialists, but in Russia the stereotype is that those who have such money generally got it through mafia-style tactics.

[SiteWolf]

Ok.....going further, tho.....you and I both know Carl Pohlad is one of the richest owners in baseball. So yes, he'd have the money for large salaries...but he'd have no way to not LOSE money with a large payroll because he wouldn't be able to recoup it.

In other words...ok, those Russian team owners have money. But where will the money come from to recoup their investment? The mafia ain't THAT big...is it?