In baseball, the Boston Red Sox paid over $50 million dollars just to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka. The congeniality between Japan, one of baseball's top nations, and the MLB is amazing and allows for the continued smooth transition of Japanese players to the US (if they want).
However, in the NHL, the Penguins just "stole" Malkin from Russia and are only offering $200,000. Do you think that relations between the NHL and one of hockey's finest countries need to improve to somewhere like the relations between MLB and Japan? Do you think it was fair of the Penguins to take Malkin from Russia?
I like Malkin, and I'm glad he's here so I can watch him all the time. He's an amazing player. But I think his old team has suffered a blow that should be worth a lot more than $200,000. Now, relations between the NHL and Russia will be tense, and it will be more difficult for great players to transition to the NHL.
2006-11-22 09:40:00 · 9 answers · asked by C. Menstein 4 in Sports ➔ Hockey
To the guy above me. Are you serious. It is only Russia who doesn't get anything if their players go over to the NHL. All the other major hockey countries joined in with the IIHF to sign a player exchange agreement with the NHL meaning the leagues and teams get money if a player is to leave them and go to the NHL.
However Russia decided not to join this so it is their fault they don't get anything for him
And yes, Malkin should be allowed to work where he wants, he hasn't broken any rules
2006-11-22 11:08:39 · answer #1 · answered by Ted 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I dont think the Pens "stole" Malkin. You cant compare baseball dollars to hockey dollars as the winning bid for the japanese pitcher was more for the bid than an NHL team can pay their entire roster for a year. The Russian league has rejected the IIHL agreement that every other country has signed so they bear some responsibility for how the deal worked out.
But all that being said the biggest thing to remember is that according to Russian law Malkin only needed to give his employer a 2 week notice to terminate his contract. He did so effectively making him a free agent and legally able to sign with the Pens. Also remember they used stronghanded tactics to force him to re-sign for this year when he made it perfectly clear before this season he wanted to play in the NHL. Imagine being put in those circumstances in your current job, I am certain you would do as Malkin did given the same opportunity.
Last, the Russian federation has always made the path to the NHL difficult for all their star talent, read up on such legendary Russians as Igor Larionov (an absolute legend in Russia) and see how they treated him and some of the tactics the government has used on current stars to extort money even after the Russian club has gotten cash from the NHL team that signs him. These guys work here, cant easily get home and hear from their families about the problems they face back in Russia if the players dont pay off certain people, the NHL has publicly addressed some of these stories and they likely will not go away anytime soon. Arent you glad you work here and dont have to worry about your family while you are off earning a living.
2006-11-22 13:13:14 · answer #2 · answered by viphockey4 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they didn't do anything wrong this is a kid that wants to play in the best hockey league in the world its the Russian Federation that needs to let there players go if they want to. Look at some greats from Russia in the past like Trediak he was drafted by the Canadiens but was never allowed to leave Russian Elite Leagues to come over to the NHL, same with Fetisov, Larionov, Makarov and some others great Russian players where drafted in the early 80's but never where allowed to play in the NHL till the Russia Federation finally allowed it in the 1989 season and Makarov won the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the year but he was like almost 30 years old and now you have to be 25 years old to win the Calder Trophy. hope this helps.
and don't compare hockey money to baseball money baseball is just about the money not the love of the game as hockey.
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
2006-11-22 10:03:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I look at it this way. For many years there was an influx of Russian players, some very good. But a lot of them were mediocre at best (Vitaly Karamnov comes to mind for you Blues fans) and got paid big bucks to be here.
I'm happy a lot of them went home after the lockout. So, this is just one back.
And frankly the baseball comparison is not fair because it's a legal monopoly and the economics of the sport are different. Frankly, I think the Red Sox are nuts. Malkin's Russian team should be happy for what they get.
2006-11-22 13:25:26 · answer #4 · answered by MoltarRocks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think NHL treats other national leagues fairly! They train and invest in the player and get nothing for their trouble.
2006-11-22 11:04:28 · answer #5 · answered by Bo V 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ok.....Malkin came to the U.S. on his OWN ACCORD. The Pens didn't secretly help him out of Russia....c'mon.
2006-11-22 10:36:54 · answer #6 · answered by Meilleur_que_toi 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes he came over here on himself after russia said he was staying so the pens only got him they didnt steal him LETS GO PENS
2006-11-22 12:37:13 · answer #7 · answered by libshateme 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the Russians would have done it if the roles were reversed. Sports is big business. S c r e w the Ruskies.
2006-11-22 10:00:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes, it didnt break any US laws.
2006-11-22 14:05:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋