In the US: KHL->CHL. Why?

[wurstman3000]

When I read articles on the big US sport sites about the new mainly russian league, it is called CHL most of the time, sometimes with a note, that it's KHL in russia.
That will be misleading by the end of the year, as the CHL (Champions Hockey League) starts, a competition like european soccers champions league.
Seeing there are CHLs already (Central; Canadian), I don't get, why the media - seeing a new one coming in some months - not simply limits the number of these to three and sticks to KHL as the abbreviation.
I mean, having 'Kontinental' in the name instead of 'Continental' seems to be no problem for european english speaking media, why in the US?

Or don't they know that the new CHL and KHL are different leagues?

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by wurstman3000

When I read articles on the big US sport sites about the new mainly russian league, it is called CHL most of the time, sometimes with a note, that it's KHL in russia. That will be misleading by the end of the year, as the CHL (Champions Hockey League) starts, a competition like european soccers champions league. Seeing there are CHLs already (Central; Canadian), I don't get, why the media - seeing a new one coming in some months - not simply limits the number of these to three and sticks to KHL as the abbreviation. I mean, having 'Kontinental' in the name instead of 'Continental' seems to be no problem for european english speaking media, why in the US? Or don't they know that the new CHL and KHL are different leagues?

I agree, it's going to be confusing. But there's actually another CHL in the States (Central Hockey League) so I guess you might as well throw another league with the same abbreviation out there.

In the end though, I don't think we'll have to worry about this new KHL. Jamie Heward played in the RSL this past season and he said the 'KHL' is at least 20 years away from being any kind of a threat to the NHL.
He said from the skill level, to the facilities to the travel, it's going to be a major headache to get off the ground.

[wurstman3000]

I don't see the KHL as a threat in any way. Grown up in a country in which euro-soccer structures the way team-sports are organized, I'm pleased with the developments at the moment, mainly with the new CHL. The KHL is good in this, as it puts some weight in the euro side of the new to negotiate transfer agreement with the NHL so that it may become fair someday.


Here is a nice forum post summing up KHL positions regarding the NHL:
http://forums.internationalhockey.ne...?t=6987&page=2
(post #58)

As for the league KHL itself: I doubt we see a significant number of non-eastern european talents playing there. The country economy may be on the rise, but that has little impact on the average dude. The clubs are growing and fading with their owners; there is very little money by fans and TV. And while there are nice places, people unwilling to learn the language will live pretty much isolated.

[sportmats]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

I agree, it's going to be confusing. But there's actually another CHL in the States (Central Hockey League) so I guess you might as well throw another league with the same abbreviation out there. In the end though, I don't think we'll have to worry about this new KHL. Jamie Heward played in the RSL this past season and he said the 'KHL' is at least 20 years away from being any kind of a threat to the NHL. He said from the skill level, to the facilities to the travel, it's going to be a major headache to get off the ground.

Rubbish. Its ridicuolous how naive you people in US are as usual when you thinks that you are the biggest, best and there is nothing else. The George W Bush mentality you have in US is pathetic.
There is a big world outside the US and the KHL-league will be a really big threat to the NHL just in 3-4 years, maybe earlier than that. Dont underrestamate the influences of the world outside US and Canada!

[chicagochill95]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportmats

Rubbish. Its ridicuolous how naive you people in US are as usual when you thinks that you are the biggest, best and there is nothing else. The George W Bush mentality you have in US is pathetic. There is a big world outside the US and the KHL-league will be a really big threat to the NHL just in 3-4 years, maybe earlier than that. Dont underrestamate the influences of the world outside US and Canada!

Seems like a pathetic attempt to knock a whole country. Canadians have the same exact opinoin on the league as Americans do.

Only a few of those markets have the infrastructure to support NHL-caliber economics. There are Junior League Stadiums in North America that are the same size as their stadiums over there. They have no tradition or playing against the world's best incentive to lean on. Even if they freespend, they will have to overpay big time to get most players. They won't be able to outbid all NHL teams all the time. With the NHL, the players play in undoubtedly the best league in the world, and one with much more publicity and tradition.

And Goodenow is helping run their league.

[mercalnd]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportmats

Rubbish. Its ridicuolous how naive you people in US are as usual when you thinks that you are the biggest, best and there is nothing else. The George W Bush mentality you have in US is pathetic. There is a big world outside the US and the KHL-league will be a really big threat to the NHL just in 3-4 years, maybe earlier than that. Dont underrestamate the influences of the world outside US and Canada!

Who in their right mind would choose to go to live in Russia unless they're from that region of the world? From what I heard, outside of one or 2 big cities there is basically nothing to do in most of the cities that will have teams.

This is not a knock on the workd outside of the US and Canada but more of a knock on the life the former Soviet countries have to offer. I could see such a league having a chance if it were mainly based in Sweden, Finland, Germany and the Czech Republic. These countries have a much higher standard of life than any country in the former USSR.

[mercalnd]

Well apparently there are some guys who will go to Russia for a big payday as evidenced by Jagr's decision. No doubt the 35 million played a big part. 17.5 mllion a year for a guy whose best days are behind him. I doubt this becomes the norm though.

[thrashman]

Money is going to have to be spent on more than just luring aging stars and fringe NHL players.

Last I heard the RSL still had all transportation via train. A trip for Amur to play CSKA or SKA (and vice versa) takes a month out of the traveling team's schedule.

[wurstman3000]

Just in case anyone is interested in KHL games:
Here you can find live streams of many games. At least those for KHL should be legal, because they only link to the russian station, that holds the TV-rights and puts the streams to the net.

[Donovan]

The KHL may grow and become a solid league, and I hope it does because competition is always good, even in pro sports. Some of the biggest moments in the history of the NHL and NFL came when two competing leagues combined. The KHL could lead to an NHL Europe, or broadening the game to other parts of the world, again like the NFL may do one day. I like the idea of champions of NA and the Champions of Europe competing after the Stanley Cup finals, etc. Its a long way off but the future of the game could be very exciting.

Anyway, as far as it goes now, for reasons already stated in this thread the KHL will not be a big threat to the NHL and its player base. I mean Russian phenoms like Malkin and Ovechkin were offered big Jagr like paydays and they clearly know where the fame is at as well as the money, albeit it a lot less. The owners of the KHL may be billionares but even they will get tired of pouring 50-60 million a year on rosters where 2-3 players eat up 80% of the wages, which results in fairly low quality hockey compared to even a Florida-Atlanta game in the doledrums of January.