The KHL is in Serious Trouble.

Several months ago, I released a pair of videos detailing why the Kontinental Hockey League and the Russian Hockey system as a whole were both an absolute mess due to many of their foreign import players leaving the league in droves as a result of the current situation.

Well you probably won't be surprised to discover that things have gotten even worse, as the KHL is struggling to retain even a tiny fraction of their foreign player base or entice new import players nearly 3 weeks into the league's free agency period!

So how many import players have left over the last few months, and how many are there currently left in the league? Well let's take a look at the entire situation in a little more detail and find out, shall we?

So in today's video, join me as we explore why the KHL is in serious trouble!

#KHL #KontinentalHockeyLeague #Hockey #Sports #News #NHL #NationalHockeyLeague #History


Please feel free to like, subscribe share or watch some of my other videos and thank you very much for watching!

[henrikoster]

Those 3 Finnish players you featured that have contracts to Avtomobilist have pretty much confirmed that they are trying get rid of their contracts, those contracts were signed during the winter before the invasion of Ukraine and were just only recently made public because their previous contracts ran out and were eligible to be announced by the club

[saturnotaku]

I'd like to see some of these former players move to lesser-known European leagues like the Italian or even your own EIHL. They'd probably love the boost to their profiles.

[tedharrington]

Never noticed the ring light till you mentioned it.

[Sheqeer-wn]

what we have after a year:
1. the most spectacular and most profitable season in the history of the KHL
2. huge progress of young Russian players, the teams have become younger and the pace of the game has increased
3. more games and no season stops due to an outdated eurotour
4. many clubs began to think about building new arenas, now torpedo, avtomobilist, ska are building new arenas, avangard and sibir have already been built, a huge number of people could not get into the arenas due to the small capacity, people watched hockey in shopping centers
5. the limit on foreign players has been tightened, now you can only have 3 foreigners (strange decision imo)
6. many coaches and journalists are set for a complete withdrawal of russia from iihf, european hockey is pulling us down, we should focus on the nhl and cooperate with canadians
in my words, it may seem as if we have no problems, we have problems, anyway, we are alive, the league has taken a step forward, our vector is now pointing the other way, bye bye
dinamo riga rip bozo btw

[darrellmackinnon]

*Keep your head up, OMR. Just remember, you have quite the underground following. We support whatever direction and focus, you choose to do or use for content.*

[barbarian]

Also, the league is moving to limit the amount of foreign players allowed per team, to where only three imports will be permitted by the 23-24 season. The Finnish and Swedish federations did say that any player playing in the K wouldn't be selected for their national teams, which probably has an impact, too.

[TheHesseJames]

Banning Russian players from playing outside Russia is a major blunder by hockey.

[Yomasi]

Im starting to think we might never see Michkov make it to the NHL if this situation continues to escalate

[TsherrooumOfficial]

This also screws over many European teams with smaller budgets as all of the best players are joining the biggest teams in the other leagues. Espacially Switzerland is landing a lot of KHL FAs as they pay really well, you can live a good life there and also their import limit has just been raised from 4 to 6 for this season. Going to make it tough on the young ones trying to break through aswell...

[daweedking]

1:00 your ring lights are reflecting in your glasses. lol :P

[eldestmochi]

I completely agree that individual players should not be persecuted and demonized by the hockey community for actions committed by a corrupt government in which they have no say. It’s an awfully tricky situation, but I believe that the hockey world should be more accepting and supportive of our Russians than ever. Let us not forget that the old Soviet legends fought against impossible odds so they could freely play the game they loved in countries that wanted nothing to do with them. I don’t want to see that happening again. The last thing hockey needs is to be even more exclusive.

[deathtoluke]

I'll start complaining about the ring light now, just for you

[kevinfavron]

That fact that you mentioned your ring light I can’t stop looking at I’m mesmerized

[esfahanbhura]

Really interesting video, you made some excellent, well-thought-out points that have given me a lot to think about. Will be watching more of your videos!

[nationalist]

Dang I didnt notice the ring light until you said something, now I cant stop looking.

[fdti]

Russian amateur hockey players turn pro, simple. 200 people in Russia will see a significant pay raise.

The resources behind the KHL aren't jeopardized.

[JJJJ-gluf]

Reasons not to play in the KHL:

1. Earning your living in a country like Russia is morally questionable these days;
2. Anyone choosing to play in Russia needs to consider the instability and the impact that has on salary;
3. In a league where teams fly everywhere, without spare parts and repair manual updates from the West, Russia faces increasing difficulties in servicing its aircraft and ensuring that the maintenance paperwork meets international standards. Out of Aeroflot's 187 planes, all but 10 are made by Airbus or Boeing, which are barred from servicing the jets. Even Russian made planes are in trouble as their engines are built by foreign companies. Russian-based aircraft will not be flying too much longer, at least safely.

I've been to Russia a few times in the 1990s and early 2000s, but I'll never go back again.

[standardyeepz]

I didn’t notice the ring light, now I can’t unsee it

[Tyu-bi]

Overwhelming majority of Jokerit fans never wanted their team to go to KHL. They are glad it is finally over.

[fomalhaut]

Hard to imagine we could return to the dark ages of players deflecting to other countries to play. That would definitely be a sad day for hockey.