Four young players of the strongest club in the KHL, CSKA — forwards Cyril Whims and Mikhail Grigorenko, the defender of Alexander Romanov, and goalie Ilya Sorokin concluded contracts with clubs of NHL “Minnesota wild”, “Columbus blue Jackets”, “Montreal Canadiens and new York islanders”. The most curious point connected with this news, is that none of the Russian players will not be able to be renewed in the end of the season in August and will not be on the ice until December. Thus, the pause in the performances everyone will be more than eight months.Among the main news in all media in North America covering hockey, was the news that almost simultaneously contracts with NHL clubs signed four young players of CSKA. 25-year-old Mikhail Grigorenko and 24-year-old Ilya Sorokin — the year “Columbus” and “new York islanders”, respectively, 23-year-old Cyril Whims — two years with Minnesota, and 20-year-old Alexander Romanov — for three years with “Montreal”.If it was customary for the NHL summer, the message seemed to be absolutely ordinary. That last year’s winner of the Gagarin Cup CSKA declared the champion of Russia after the end of the season, which was interrupted in March by the pandemic coronavirus, most likely, will lose four of its key players, has long been known. Mikhail Grigorenko, to CSKA who played in the NHL, in April even managed to conclude the contract with “Columbus”, but it was rejected by the League. The departure of Alexander Romanov, which is one of the most promising defenders in world hockey, and Cyril Kaprizova, author of “Golden” goal, the Olympics in 2018, about whom ESPN, commenting on the transition, wrote that he, of course, “future NHL superstar”, and compared his potential with the leader of the “new York Rangers” by Artemy Panarin, announced a long time ago the leaders of CSKA. Some intrigue was preserved except around Ilya Sorokin. But the islanders never hid that I wanted as soon as possible to talented and have a great experience playing international tournaments the goalkeeper.The intrigue of these transactions, added one circumstance connected with the specifics of the season. NHL, interrupted by the pandemic at the same time as other major tournaments, will resume on August 1 and will be held in the extended to 24 teams in play-off. “Minnesota”, “Columbus”, “Montreal” and “islanders” in the list of competitors of the Cup Stanley have got. However, under the terms of the agreement between the League and its Union newcomers have appeared in teams in the summer, although will be able to attend in the cities-a”bubble” Edmonton and Toronto taking the Cup stage will not be eligible to play in play-off, which will stretch into October, and substantially shift the timing of the start of next season. While it is assumed that it starts not ��before 1 December. Thus, the four army period without match practice will be more than eight months.However, the decision to sign contracts right now, even condemning themselves to a long simple (in the KHL new season will open much earlier — in September), for the players were undoubted practical sense. In the NHL there is a limit for salary for those who first signed with clubs contract: they may not earn more than $850 thousand per year. The ban on the use of beginners in the play-off assumes that the fresh agreement will be valid during the draw. In other words, not going on the ice, Whims, Sorokin and Novels “burn” a year of his contract and get out early on the free agent market to sign a more profitable, relevant to their real status of the agreement.Alex Armor
