I saw an article on tsn aboput a new league a russian tycoon might start up. It would surely rival the nhl for european players and there couldbe a game between the champions of each league. Your thoughts? Here's the article http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=225259&hubname=nhl.
2007-12-17 07:08:45 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Hockey
Wow. Great answer!!! It would be great for the NHL if the other league became a viable league and alot of players left/ stayed to play there? Because..............get this...........there would be less good players and scoring would go up. Wow.
My thoughts are the NHL better ante up with their transfer agreements and we will see alot more players go to play there and some that will stay there if it becomes a viable league. Already, there have been some guys going home and it could get worse.
The endorsement money is there, just look at soccer in the European countries. The fans are there. The money seems to be there. This could be bad news for the NHL in the future. I don't see it as being an XFL flop. It seems viable.
A few Russian based teams, I think a Finnish club already expressed interest, Germany, Czechs, Sweden etc.........
Imagine if the NHL suddenly loses guys like Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk etc...........Me thinks Mr.Buttman is having nightmares about this and he should.
2007-12-17 07:35:23 · answer #1 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It will be a European league with teams in several European cities including Stockholm, Helsinki, Berlin, Moscow, etc. This is not the first time somebody has planned this, and it probably won't be the last.
Typically, a North American player gets paid as much, if nt more to play in Europe, but most want the Stanley Cup.
Starting in 2008, there will be a game (known as the Victoria Cup) that will pit the Stanley Cup champion against the best team(s) in Europe.
Personally, if anything, I see this as a precursor to European expansion. It will be interesting to see if such a league holds any allure for the Sidney Crosby's and Joe Thornton's of the world.
Most players I know want to be among the best. I know Ovechkin relishes playing against Crosby. A European league will be more attractive to him than it is to a North American (although he can get Crosby-like money in Russia if he wanted it) but will the level of competition be the same without the top Canadians? I think not.
Mikey,
I don't see that happening. The NHL has a long and rich tradition of being the best hockey on the planet. It is still looked upon internationally as the league to be in. Even soccer can't make that claim as the Bundesliga, English Premiership, Spanish, and Italian leagues all claim to be the best leagues. The difference being that FIFA has created a better transfer arrangement between leagues than the IIHF has.
Personally, I think it is going to take an awful lot for a rival league to usurp the NHL. The AHL tried in the 20s, 30s, and 40s...........and took a huge stab at it in the 60s. Never succeeded. The World Hockey Association tried......but never succeeded. I see very little reason to think that anybody else will succeed anytime soon.
2007-12-17 07:38:20 · answer #2 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does it surprise anyone that a Russian guy thought this up? lol
Anyway, I don't like this, I would like to see a European hockey league, where there's a team from every good country. And it would be fun to see the Stanley Cup champion play the Euro champion, but it would suck a lot of talent out of the NHL. That's something I don't want to happen.
~
Slapshot: how can you even say that?? You're saying that the NHL would be a better league without European players? No Zetterberg, no Alfredsson, no Kovalchuk, no Ovechkin, etc. etc... That would be OK with you?? Hell I would stop watching the NHL if that ever happened.
~~
LITY, I am too am quite sure no league will overtake the NHL. I am just saying that if it were ever to happen, and if all the European players left, I probably would stop watching the NHL.
2007-12-17 07:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by N/A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This would be awesome for the NHL. Since a lot of good players would go to Russia. Therefore, the disparity between great players and crappy players in the NHL would increase by a large margin. Leading to more goals, dekes, and end-to-end hockey. Like in the 1980's.
2007-12-17 07:14:35 · answer #4 · answered by Vic3 Drlver 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be great. The NHL should limit the imports hopefully this will get all of them to leave!!! I would much rather watch players from US and Canada that I can 1) pronounce their name and 2) follow as they move up the ranks.
That is exactly what I am saying. There are very few European players that I enjoy watching. I am not saying they aren't good players, I just don't enjoy the European style of play.
2007-12-17 07:40:04 · answer #5 · answered by Slapshot27 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't want hockey to become like soccer and have so many teams and leagues and championships that I don't know what is going on.
However, competition is always good for the consumer. As a fan this could have its benefits.
2007-12-17 08:24:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
havin more teams means more varities soo i think they shood evn start a women NHL and v.s. the guys.
2007-12-17 07:31:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋