European Leagues Thread

[nino33]

Do we know what kind of taxes they pay? It could make quite a difference.

Even if they pay virtually no taxes it wouldn't make a difference IMO (in terms of legitimately "competing" with the NHL) + they're paid in rubles, so risk of losing money when it goes down, as it has in recent years

[Alessandro]

I was surprised to see the KHL salaries don't seem so high (the idea of the KHL "competing" with the NHL seems completely dead IMO) http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/khl- ... ey-league/


I've actually stopped watching the KHL...I'm watching soccer and NHL hockey (again) so less available time, and the only place I found to follow discussion regarding the KHL was the HFBoards, and I just found the xenophobia to much to take

To be honest, another factor is after watching the NHL for a bit again (last year's playoffs/this season) I got to the point where the KHL just didn't impress/interest me (I'm not very impressed with the offensive play when I'm so much more aware how low intensity the play is, and how the defense play is basically nonexistent)

KHL salaries are just cut because of the ruble. Players are making (in rubles) more money now than ever, just that it seems quite the opposite because ruble is now exchanged at 65 against the dollar, while even just a couple of years ago it was 30-35. Moreover, the reports we got was without performance bonuses, which can be significant (eg players getting 1000 dollars each goal, and so on).
Taxes are 13% flat.

[Peter_Doherty]

Okey, so with 13% taxes in comparison to over 50% (guesstimating but federal tax is like 40% so i would be surprised if anyone in the NHL pays under 50% taxes) in the NHL and add performance bonuses and the pay isn't that much different for the 'good' players.

[nino33]

Okey, so with 13% taxes in comparison to over 50% (guesstimating but federal tax is like 40% so i would be surprised if anyone in the NHL pays under 50% taxes) in the NHL and add performance bonuses and the pay isn't that much different for the 'good' players.

Number five on the KHL list makes less than 2.5 million, number five for NHL salary this year makes 11 million.....number ten on the KHL list makes 1.5 million, number ten on the NHL list makes 10 million and the top 323 NHL players by salary all make 3 million or more - I don't understand how you don't see much of a difference

Also I don't see top NHL players going to the KHL (but I do see the opposite happen, with Radulov as a recent example...and apparently taking less money than the KHL offered to do so); if others want to see the KHL as legitimately competing with the NHL in any way we'll just have to agree to disagree

[Peter_Doherty]

I've never said that KHL is legitimately competing with the NHL for players. Saying that the KHLers get paid alot, that's it.

[nino33]

I've never said that KHL is legitimately competing with the NHL for players. Saying that the KHLers get paid alot, that's it.

OK, I guess I got confused by your referencing taxes NHL players pay and your saying "the pay isn't that much different for the 'good' players"

[Peter_Doherty]

I just wanted to know the taxes to get a more accurate comparison

I should rephrase, the pay isn't that much different for the top players when you account for taxes and add performance bonuses.

[nino33]

With the differences being millions of dollars, and performance bonuses like a thousand a goal, they're going to have to score a lot of goals

[Peter_Doherty]

We don't know exactly what the performance bonuses are but i would guess they are much higher then just a few thousand dollars for the likes of Kovalchuk and Datsyuk and their salaries after taxes are pretty close to be comparable to the top in the NHL even without bonuses.

[nino33]

We don't know exactly what the performance bonuses are but i would guess they are much higher then just a few thousand dollars for the likes of Kovalchuk and Datsyuk and their salaries after taxes are pretty close to be comparable to the top in the NHL even without bonuses.

And after the top few salaries the difference is in millions of dollars (number ten on the KHL list makes 1.5 million, number ten on the NHL list makes 10 million) & the rich generally find ways to not pay taxes, so I doubt NHLers are paying anywhere near 50%

P.S. It's also easy to make claims when the basic knowledge/facts aren't public (unlike the NHL)

[Peter_Doherty]

OK bud, whatever.

[Alessandro]

I doubt NHLers are paying anywhere near 50%

Absolutely lol, there are so many ways and loopholes for rich fellows that it isn't even funny

[archibalduk]

Something that is done in the UK by various TV presenters is to incorporate a company to which the wages are paid. The presenter then takes the money out of the company via dividends. So they pay corporation tax and dividend tax which is far lower than the applicable level of income tax (and social security) in the UK. I wonder if the same sort of thing goes on in North America.

[Calv]

So, off to Jokerit - Amur tomorrow and HIFK-Assat on Thursday. Who are the guys to keep an eye out for?

This will be my 3rd time watching Jokerit, and I've previously been impressed by Regin and Joensuu. I've seen Zapolski play in for Lukko in the CHL against Nottingham (a 1-sided game where he had little to do) so I'm looking forward to seeing him as I've kept my eye on his career since then. Finally, I saw Brian O'Neill play in the AHL Calder cup final a couple of years ago in Manchester, and he looked pretty good (although overshadowed by Weal in that game).

For HIFK, I'm looking forward to seeing Backstrom in net (I hope he starts, although Lankinen looks in good form too) but not too familiar with many of their players, same with Assat

[smokey]

So, off to Jokerit - Amur tomorrow and HIFK-Assat on Thursday. Who are the guys to keep an eye out for?

This will be my 3rd time watching Jokerit, and I've previously been impressed by Regin and Joensuu. I've seen Zapolski play in for Lukko in the CHL against Nottingham (a 1-sided game where he had little to do) so I'm looking forward to seeing him as I've kept my eye on his career since then. Finally, I saw Brian O'Neill play in the AHL Calder cup final a couple of years ago in Manchester, and he looked pretty good (although overshadowed by Weal in that game).

For HIFK, I'm looking forward to seeing Backstrom in net (I hope he starts, although Lankinen looks in good form too) but not too familiar with many of their players, same with Assat

HIFK: many core players injured right now, but if J-M Aaltonen isn't injured he should always be fun to watch. Hands down the most skilled player on either team. Matt Generous, Joe Finley and M-M Åsten bring a physical element along with more skilled players like Mika Partanen, Lennart Petrell (who's going through a scoring slump) and Corey Elkins. This matchup between two traditional blue collar teams has a long history of on ice shenanigans, scrums and downright violence, and with both teams eager to get the three points after the EHT tourney, I wouldn't be surprised if the game offered a bit more physical and gritty play than your average mid nov game between two mid-table teams, even though Ässät has been among the least penalaized teams in the league this year. Also, both teams have done well defensively, with Ari Ahonen right behind Bäckström for third in GAA and first in sv%, so don't expect to see a lot of goals scored on either team.

[Calv]

Thanks

[Manimal]

HIFK has signed Swedish playmaker Mikael Johansson who probably will debut for them in that game

[Alessandro]

For Amur of course Metsola is a star. Artyom Zub is a great young defenseman, very interesting player. Just played at the Karjala Cup. If he will play, but I doubt, check out Matvei Zaseda. The kid may even have NHL potential. Byvaltsev is having a great season, a good two-way center who's having a breakout season. And of course the Ushenin twins are always a treat to watch. A duo with great skating and chemistry.

[A9L3E]

For Jokerit: Joensuu, Jormakka, both goalkeepers (one of the few strong sides of Jokerit this season), O'Neill (dreadful in the beginning, a rising fan-favourite at the moment). Marko Anttila is the overachiever of the season in my books, although no-one expected much of him in the first place. Regin has been a slight disappointment so far this season. The same can be said about basically our whole defence, apart from some exceptions like Rautanen, a home-grown junior player who is currently injured. Tomi Mäki has been energetic so far. And then there is Michael Keränen, who is not playing if you (and we) are lucky - let's leave it at that.

It has been a while since the last home match, so I am really excited for their return.

[smokey]

HIFK has signed Swedish playmaker Mikael Johansson who probably will debut for them in that game

Oh yeah, forgot about him. Should be an exciting addition. He will actually make his debut for HIFK tonight in their CHL game vs Linköping.

[Ukko]

Oh hell ! There is CHL tonight ! So cool

[A9L3E]

The Jokerit line-up for today.

[ClassicSwarley]

Question to those who follow the Jokerit games closely- how does Kulda look like on the ice, any comments on his play lately?

[A9L3E]

He is quite invisible, which is a good thing for a defensive defender. Overall, I would say he has been playing well.

[smokey]

I know this should probably go into the trash talk thread, but not a single likeable face in that pic. This from a fellow countryman; go Amur!