Larry Brooks at The New York Post says that the Russian Super League is willing to spend lots of money on NHL players for two reason, one to restore pride and upper-echelon quality in Russian professional hockey and the second is to hurt the NHL, which has refused to engage in any meaningful give-and-take with the Russian Federation regarding a transfer agreement. This may include stealing Jaromir Jagr and Alexei Cherepanov...On Cherepanov...
"At the moment, the new league appears to be targeting veterans. But what will happen next year if a Russian team offers Alexei Cherepanov, say, $4M tax-free to remain home, while the New York Rangers are limited to offering their 2007 first-round draft choice an entry-level cap base NHL salary of $875,000, which automatically would become $65,000 if the winger were to play in the AHL?"
On Jagr...
"The New York Rangers will not be able to compete monetarily for Jagr with Omsk, or any other club in the Russian league. If it's about a financial guarantee, Jagr has played his last game as a Ranger and in the NHL. Assume Jagr will be able to make between $16-20M tax-free over two years in Russia. That's the equivalent of what, $30-35M before taxes, in New York? More?"
...the Russian Super League looks like they're starting a 21st Century Cold War with the NHL.
...as much as I want Jagr back, if he decides the money is more important, hey have fun in Siberia. But if we lose Cherepanov because of this new initiative by the Russian Super League I'm not going to be very happy.
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