Ice Hockey goalkeeper Juha Metsola fought his seventh term in the KHL until Russia began its hostilities in Ukraine. Metsola quickly decided to return to Finland with his family and settled with Salavat Julayev Ufa.
Tampere is one of the top ten players whose future is now obscure. The flood of KHL players is confusing the European player market. There will be a limited number of seats available for next season.
– A lot of good players are flowing into the European leagues. There is a lot of intrusion into Veskarinki’s place, but I wonder if there is a place to be found, Metsola paves the way.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the same day that Metsola celebrated its 33rd birthday. Everyday life quickly became uncertain.
Metsola reminds that no one knows what the future will bring. Even in the hockey market, you have to wait.
Quitting or returning to Russia are not likely to be considered by the player.
– There is a desire for games and gas in the tank. I wouldn’t want to stop here, and I certainly won’t stop.
– Probably there are foreign players who want to go to Russia. In this global situation, I don’t see myself going back there, Metsola says.
About half of the foreign players who left KHL have found a new club this spring. 11 KHL players have joined the league in recent weeks. At the end of the story is a list of players by player.
Player Agent Jarmo Kork predicts that about 150 players will move from KHL to other leagues. A significant proportion of them could be employed in Switzerland as the number of teams in the country’s main series grows by one and the foreign quota rises to six. This will add 30 more seats.
– European clubs will have better players in the future and the salary levels of KHL players will fall somewhat. Over time, the situation will level off again, Kork estimates.
According to him, KHL clubs are preparing to pay the salaries of foreign players in dollars or euros instead of rubles in the future.
– At the moment, however, I dare not recommend KHL to players.
CEO of the League Association Tappara Mika Aro does not believe in significant increases in player budgets to recruit KHL players.
– It is clear that Tappara or hardly any other league club will be able to pay KHL-level salaries, Aro says.
National team pilot Jukka Jalonen notes that KHL ‘s situation also has an impact on the coach market.
– There have hardly been foreign head coaches there. Instead, goalie and physics coaches will come to Europe from KHL and the competition for places will intensify, Jalonen sees.
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