Malkin back to Russia?

[Mehen]

Whaaaaaat!?!?!

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241220&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_main

If the new Russian professional hockey league has its way, the National Hockey League career of Hart Trophy candidate Evgeni Malkin will be pretty short.

According to a report in the Toronto Star, the Russian teams are prepared to offer the Russian-born Malkin a contract that would make him the highest-paid hockey player in the world. The multi-year contract would be worth at least $12.5 million tax free per season, or the equivalent of $15 million per year in the NHL.

"Hey, we can afford to pay more than the NHL right now," a high-ranking executive with the Russian league, called the Continental League, told the Star. "Our economy is commodities-based so we're not going through the same problems that you have in America."

[Haig]

I hope this doesn't start a new trend.

[Mehen]

off topic, but a guy I've played with a bit the last two summers while he's in town went in the 4th round of the draft - I think he was projected to go in the 7th Round if at all.

[Haig]

Good stuff. How many years does he think it would take for him to play in the NHL?

[Mehen]

I don't think he will ever play - probably another year of WHL, then a couple ECHL then maybe AHL. If he does ever make the show, I would say 5 years.

I love the summers - all the good hockey players come back from wherever they were, and I end up playing with a lot of them. (Lots of WHL, some ECHL, AHL).

[Mehen]

Jagr now... offered 35mill over 3 years.

[Mehen]

Jagr apparently signed with a Russian team for 35mill over TWO years.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242465&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl

Why does this remind me of the whole Beckham fiasco?

[Haig]

I can just image what they would offer to a young superstar.