How did Cervenka never become a Nhler?

[Eye of Ra]

Just look at him. He is 39 and dominates in this WC. Imagine how good he was in his prime. If a guy like Marcus Johansson have and is an Nhler how did Cervenka not turn into one?

 

[SoundAndFury]

Easy answer - no physical tools. Many players are in the same boat, Omark is the poster boy for this too. They are neither fast, nor strong, nor particularly elusive skaters. Considering they had to be offered contracts competitive with top offers from Europe, it just wasn't particularly worth it for either side.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Just look at him. He is 39 and dominates in this WC. Imagine how good he was in his prime. If a guy like Marcus Johansson have and is an Nhler how did Cervenka not turn into one?

He played 39 games with Calgary, scored 17 points (9+8), which wasn't a bad start at all. Then he, quite surprisingly, terminated the contract and returned to Europe. My guess: He has "always" been the type of player who needed and required to be a leader, the man the team was relying on. In this role he can still play his best hockey. There have always been players of this kind and it is completely fine. But obviously you can't come to the NHL and immediately have this role. He was feeling unfomfortable having to compete for his spot in the line-up etc. So he decided to return to Europe. Which is every player's right and if he was feeling Europe would be a better place for him as a player, it is completely OK.

 

[SoundAndFury]

He played 39 games with Calgary, scored 17 points (9+8), which wasn't a bad start at all. Then he, quite surprisingly, terminated the contract and returned to Europe. My guess: He has "always" been the type of player who needed and required to be a leader, the man the team was relying on. In this role he can still play his best hockey. There have always been players of this kind and it is completely fine. But obviously you can't come to the NHL and immediately have this role. He was feeling unfomfortable having to compete for his spot in the line-up etc. So he decided to return to Europe. Which is every player's right and if he was feeling Europe would be a better place for him as a player, it is completely OK.

Or it's simply about dollars and cents. His contract was 925k + bonuses and while 9+8 isn't bad, it probably didn't hit most, if any, of that bonus money. While in Russia, at the time, he easily made 1,5-2 mil tax free dollars. Losing 1 million dollars per year for pie in the sky NHL dream isn't for everyone.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Or it's simply about dollars and cents. His contract was 925k + bonuses and while 9+8 isn't bad, it probably didn't hit most, if any, of that bonus money. While in Russia, at the time, he easily made 1,5-2 mil tax free dollars. Losing 1 million dollars per year for pie in the sky NHL dream isn't for everyone.

Only the player himself knows. Of course they used to be offerring insane money to players in Russia back then. I don't know Červenka personally so I really don't dare to guess what his real motivations had been. It could as well be about him being not exactly young and not able/willing to adapt to the slighly different lifestyle. Also, NHL is specific in the fact that they are playing insane 82 games per regular season. The games are following in a really quick order. Some players are not the right types for that because they need slightly more time to rest between games. We can but speculate.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

WC doesn't count , NHL hockey is a different beast , plus he prob made more money over there

 

[HighLifeManIsHigh]

He played 39 games with Calgary, scored 17 points (9+8), which wasn't a bad start at all. Then he, quite surprisingly, terminated the contract and returned to Europe. My guess: He has "always" been the type of player who needed and required to be a leader, the man the team was relying on. In this role he can still play his best hockey. There have always been players of this kind and it is completely fine. But obviously you can't come to the NHL and immediately have this role. He was feeling unfomfortable having to compete for his spot in the line-up etc. So he decided to return to Europe. Which is every player's right and if he was feeling Europe would be a better place for him as a player, it is completely OK.

Cervenka missed the start of that season with the Flames with a blood clot and never really found his footing after that

 

[Fil]

He played 38 games and 17 pts
Looking at tht he was definitely good enough.
But then I searched his khl salary for the year after tht... 3.9 MILLION
KHL money is TAX FREE
So it was probably money not because he not good enough

 

[Fil]

This is my source:

HockeyZonePlus - NHL / Hockey Salary / net worth / earnings database

The HockeyZonePlus salary history / net worth / earnings database provides information -- including salaries, rankings, career earnings, and values in today's dollars -- for players, coaches and general managers.

www.hockeyzoneplus.com

He probably made bonuses too

 

[Zine]

He played 38 games and 17 pts
Looking at tht he was definitely good enough.
But then I searched his khl salary for the year after tht... 3.9 MILLION
KHL money is TAX FREE
So it was probably money not because he not good enough

KHL money isn't tax free.

 

[Fil]

KHL money isn't tax free.

I read something tht it was?
I mean i believe you because u are from Russia. But aren't taxes really low in russia?

 

[SoundAndFury]

KHL money isn't tax free.

Even if they aren't literally tax-free, the amount of taxation is incredibly minor, especially if you compare it to Calgary.

 

[Fil]

Even if they aren't literally tax-free, the amount of taxation is incredibly minor, especially if you compare it to Calgary.

I just searched it up.. it's only 13%

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Just look at him. He is 39 and dominates in this WC. Imagine how good he was in his prime. If a guy like Marcus Johansson have and is an Nhler how did Cervenka not turn into one?

It’s funny, I was thinking the exact same thing last night.

I read something tht it was?
I mean i believe you because u are from Russia. But aren't taxes really low in russia?

I don’t know if they’re supposed to be tax free, but I’ve heard players tell crazy stories about playing for mob bosses and receiving their salary in a plastic bag full of cash.

 

[Fil]

It’s funny, I was thinking the exact same thing last night.



I don’t know if they’re supposed to be tax free, but I’ve heard players tell crazy stories about playing for mob bosses and receiving their salary in a plastic bag full of cash.

I mean the bonuses make up for the minimal tax. So we can speculate he made that whole 3.9 million

 

[SoundAndFury]

I don’t know if they’re supposed to be tax free, but I’ve heard players tell crazy stories about playing for mob bosses and receiving their salary in a plastic bag full of cash.

That only really applies to a select few village teams nobody cares about, not really applicable to the elite teams Cervenka played for.

 

[Fil]

That only really applies to a select few village teams nobody cares about, not really applicable to the elite teams Cervenka played for.

But I also heard reports that lots of khl teams pay a lot under the table. Idk if that's true but it's definitely possible

 

[Golden_Jet]

left NHL for more money,

 

[Czechboy]

My guess is money. Top line and more money in KHL. Shame, he's obviously really good. Agree with physical tools.. he is all about hockey IQ. Not speed or size.

Crazy thing. He was jagrs preferred linemate and now pastas preferred linemate. He has good taste