Kukla's Korner Hockey
Next entry: Talk Of Umberger To Columbus
Previous entry: Blues Trade Jamal Mayers to the Leafs
Russian League Interested In Malkin
by Paul on 06/20/08 at 06:04 AM ET
Comments (5)
from Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star,
Several teams in Russia’s revamped pro hockey league want to repatriate NHL all-star Evgeni Malkin by offering him a contract that would make him hockey’s highest-paid player – by a wide margin.
In a move that would surely send a shock through NHL, whose executives are gathered today in Ottawa for the amateur player draft, the Russian teams are poised to offer the Russian-born Pittsburgh Penguins forward a multi-year contract worth at least $12.5 million (all figures U.S.) tax free per season, said a source familiar with the matter.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Evgeni+Malkin,
Comments
Russia is awash in oil and natural gas revenues, which is one reason I would allow this story some credibility. With respect to the relative fortunes of Russia (and the EU) and the United States, the reverse migration of European players isn’t entirely inconceivable.
Inasmuch as the United States is intent on acting like thugs on the world stage, maybe it would be appropriate for North American hockey to return to the 70s Flyers look.
I wonder if Don Cherry is physically capable of turning a cartwheel?
Posted by BobS. on 06/20/08 at 09:40 AM ET
...the Russian teams are poised to offer the Russian-born Pittsburgh Penguins forward a multi-year contract worth at least $12.5 million (all figures U.S.) tax free per season…
Assuming the offer is legit, it’s the “tax-free” part that makes it so huge. If Malkin got $8M/year from the Pens, he’d end up with about $5.2M/year after the max 35% federal tax. That’s $7.2M per year less than what he’d end up with in Russia.
I don’t know what 22 year old wouldn’t be tempted by that.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/20/08 at 10:20 AM ET
I don’t know what 22 year old wouldn’t be tempted by that.
Especially since it would be going home to a country where he might be more comfortable - he doesn’t seem to be nearly as outgoing as Ovechkin, and I know he comes from a smaller town.
Still, he’s been with the Penguins for a couple years so I expect he has more of a support network now - it isn’t as though he’s been in North America for about three weeks playing for a lousy team and is homesick.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/20/08 at 10:51 AM ET
The IIHF issued a press release on this. You can read it at the Hockey News...
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/20/08 at 11:16 AM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Video- Kari Lehtonen With The Save Of The Night
The New Trade Deadline Strategy
The NHL Gets The 2013 Winter Classic Location Wrong
About KK Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker
Make extra cash while playing online poker. Rakeback is free and comes with rake races.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
I know he had a rough end of year and post season by his standards, but i think this would be fairly obvious. I think the Miami Heat and Manchester United are probably interested in him as well
Posted by Paul Nicholson from Nashville, TN on 06/20/08 at 09:15 AM ET