How much will the top KHL stars who returned to Russia earn? KHL transfer rumours
Pavel Panyshev August 6, 2024, 11:30 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
In this edition of our column we count other people’s money and discuss possible transitions.
We continue our traditional column on the main transfer rumors in the KHL. In the off-season, the topic of transfers, exchanges and signing new contracts is always the hottest. In early August, the league’s top clubs made a noticeable noise by signing contracts with hockey players who played in North America. However, there is still a lot of news and the salaries of the newly arrived stars always interest the public.
All the important things about transfers to the KHL
What’s happening in the transfer market? There are star signings! KHL transfer table
Kuznetsov was bombarded with money in St. Petersburg
At SKA, just like at the Zenit football club, they like to celebrate in style. The main transfer of the off-season can easily be called the return of Evgeniy Kuznetsov from the NHL and his move to the Northern capital. Kuznetsov wanted to get into Ak Bars, he was persistently called up to his native Traktor, but in the end the choice of the forward fell on Roman Rotenberg’s team. For four years at SKA, Kuzya will earn 50, 92, 92 and 92 million rubles in each season, and will also receive huge bonuses, for example, for winning the Gagarin Cup. 92 is also the number under which Evgeniy plays. Symbolic, isn’t it?
Gusev did not take offense at Dynamo either
Nikita Gusev wanted to try his luck in the NHL again, but it made no sense to sign a two-way contract in North America and travel around the AHL, and it didn’t work out to reach a one-way agreement. Signing a one-year contract with Dynamo Moscow, which has been talked about and written about in the press for a long time, is the right decision. In fact, the blue-and-whites supplemented their roster by giving Gusev 77 million rubles, including the bonus. In addition, Nikita’s contract stipulates a bonus of 40 million rubles for being among the top three scorers in the KHL at the end of the regular season.
Nikita Gusev
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
What are Barabanov’s conditions at Ak Bars?
Alexander Barabanov also returned from abroad. He could have ended up either at SKA or CSKA, but in the end he chose Kazan. Ak Bars lost Shipachev, Radulov and Galiev, so a leader and a skilled hockey player in attack was certainly needed. How much will Alexander earn in the capital of Tatarstan? Under a two-year contract, in the first year of the contract the forward can earn 82.5 million rubles, including the bonus part, and in the second year the amount of his contract is 95 million rubles. In addition, Alexander has a bonus of 50 million rubles in each of the two years of the contract for being among the top three scorers of the KHL at the end of the regular season.
SKA is not against Barabanov’s return
Roman Rotenberg: Barabanov in SKA? We don’t rule it out, maybe he’ll come back.
Fritz did not arrive at the Dynamo Minsk headquarters
In early August, several sources close to Dinamo Minsk reported that Canadian forward Tanner Fritz would not join the team this summer due to injury. The preliminary date of restoration is approaching the new year. According to our information, in the KHL CIB the player has the status of an unrestricted free agent, that is, his contract was terminated. However, the forward is expected in Minsk, albeit much later. Now free money can be spent on new hockey players.
Tanner Fritz (right)
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
Lukoyanov can’t find a job for reasons unrelated to hockey
Ak Bars officially said goodbye to experienced forward Artyom Lukoyanov. Some say it with a smile, but Luka, as the fans call the forward, is a true legend of the club. The man never played his number on the ice and always fought for the team. However, in the end, certain reasons not related to hockey prevailed. The forward could end up at Admiral or Lokomotiv, but they are not in a hurry to invite the hockey player there either. The situation is complicated. I would like to wish the player to quickly find a new place of work.
