Rumor: Jeff Carter heading to Switzerland (or not)

[Pizza!Pizza!]

Maybe he wants to go out like Gary Unger did in the British Hockey League, I know I would.

 

[kerrabria]

This rumor makes literally no sense, I don't believe this for a second.

When was the last time a non-European player still playing at a good NHLer level just decided to leave the NHL for an inferior league in Europe? There is absolutely no connection between Carter and Switzerland.

There's always a first. Before Carter was traded, people were saying he wanted to retire. HC Bern draws like 17,000 fans to the games, and he could easily make like 800k Swiss Francs (stronger than the USD). Switzerland also may just be an attractive place to live/retire. The US and Canada are both a mess.

The travel schedule in the NLA is also a million times better if he still wants to play high level hockey and that matters to him.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

If he's going in the summer, then it isn't for this Olympics.

He could also get an NHL contract and just leave 1 year before the Olympics if he's still playing in the NHL and the league isn't going again.

This makes no sense, unless he can get decent money over there. Switzerland is a nice country

 

[SenzZen]

What’s Guy Lafleur doing in that thumbnail?!?

 

[Foppberg]

Honestly if I was a high level athlete and could no longer cut it at the NHL level I'd 100% play in Switzerland. So I can't blame him there.

Not that he can't cut it anymore lol quite the opposite.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Until somebody with some credibility reports it I remain skeptical

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Honestly if I was a high level athlete and could no longer cut it at the NHL level I'd 100% play in Switzerland. So I can't blame him there.

Not that he can't cut it anymore lol quite the opposite.

But he can still cut it.

 

[Foppberg]

But he can still cut it.

Hence my bottom comment.

 

[Charlie Conway]

Klein was a bottom pair defenseman at the time, Carter is a good bit better than him.

Doesn't change my point, though. Klein still could've made a decent clip more in the NHL than he would have in the Swiss League.

If Carter is battling injuries or just not wanting to play the same physical hockey at the pace the NHL requires, the Swiss League is a nice place to continue a career in one's later years.

 

[Hobnobs]

The Jeff Carter that has 11 goals and 20 points in 31 games this season? Total that average out to 29 goals and 53 points? I find it hard to believe he would make such a decision until after he has become a free agent and seen what NHL interest there might be then.

When youve made over 70 mill in your career playing physically demanding NHL hockey I doubt you care when there is the option to chill out with a couple of mills tax free in a beautiful country and play less games a year.

 

[Kamaya Painters]

- The game in Switzerland is very open in comparison to other European countries (Sweden, Russia etc). At least until all these Swedish coaches make things more professional.
- Much shorter road trips. The longest trips are 3-4 hours. Players hardly spend any nights away from their families - even during the longest trips.
- Switzerland is a beautiful country with lots of great locations.
- Great position geographically in Europe. Easy to visit countries like Italy, Austria, France and the Southern part of Germany.
- Taxes are lower in Switzerland.
- Foreign hockey players get a free accommodation, car and insurance for the whole family. Some teams even offer free ski passes for their players. Davos is one of the clubs who always include this in the player contracts.
- There won't be any major language barrier as most people in Switzerland speak English..but it's always good to learn one of the four official languages.
- The educational system in Switzerland is among the best out there.

 

[beowulf]

When youve made over 70 mill in your career playing physically demanding NHL hockey I doubt you care when there is the option to chill out with a couple of mills tax free in a beautiful country and play less games a year.

Sure he has gross career earnings of $72M, but that is before taxes and escrow and agent fees, etc. As for "a couple of mills tax free", not sure where you are getting that idea. The average salary in the NLA is about CHF 215,000 or less than $300K in US dollars. The top end guys, and not many, make maybe $600K and often the player will get an apartment and access to a vehicle also, at least top talent from overseas. Last I checked the country is not an income tax free ones though it very low at %11.5 for someone in at the pay rate he would be at federally but at the canton level it is generally much much higher. On cantonal level, tax rates vary heavily with a maximum rate in Zurich of approximately 41.3%, compared to 23.1% in Zug of, 32.6% in Lucerne, 41.5% in Lausanne and to 48.0% in Geneva (all rates including federal income tax).

A generally idea of salaries in Europe in 2021

EUROPE
KHL – 75,000 To 5million
Swiss NLA – 90,000 To 500,000
Sweden SHL – 55,000 To 275,000
Finland Liiga – 40,000 To 200,000
Czech Extraliga – 50,000 To 190,000
German DEL – 45,000 To 150,000
Swiss NLB – 50,000 To 140,000
Austria, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, SLovakia EBEL League – 25,000 To 135,000
UK EIHL – 25,000 To 100,000
Sweden Allsvenskan – 20,000 To 65,000
Norway Get Ligaen – 20,000 To 60,000
German DEL 2 – 20,000 To 40,000
Austria, Italy, Slovenia ALPS League – 15,000 To 40,000
Denmark Metal Ligaen – 15,000 To 35,000
France Magnus – Under 50,000
Slovakia Extraliga – Under 40,000
Sweden Division 1 – Under 35,000
Finland MESTIS – Under 35,000
German Oberliga – Under 30,000
France Division 1 – Under 20,000
UK NIHL – Under 20,000
Belgium/Netherlands BeNe League – Under 20,000
Poland Ekstraliga – Under 50,000
Italy – Elite – Under 40,000

He is also married with 2 kids I think and lives in New Jersey during the off season, a lot easier to stay close to home in the NHL than move to Europe where his family might not come and thus not see them for long stretches.

 

[north49er]

This sounds completely cuckoo.....

 

[bert]

lol this makes no sense.

 

[seafoam]

If this was say Thornton who I believe has ties to SWI and is all but done as an NHLer, I could buy it.

But Carter? Smells like BS.

 

[DearDiary]

lol this makes no sense.

It makes sense, all the facts point to it. You look at what's been said, what people are doing and you know there's things happening in the world. Also and people tell me this too and these are fine people and like really smart, they say it makes sense.

source - just trust me bro

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

That would be really interesting!

 

[VaporTrail]

Maybe Switzerland has more laid back Covid mandates

 

[Hobnobs]

Sure he has gross career earnings of $72M, but that is before taxes and escrow and agent fees, etc. As for "a couple of mills tax free", not sure where you are getting that idea. The average salary in the NLA is about CHF 215,000 or less than $300K in US dollars. The top end guys, and not many, make maybe $600K and often the player will get an apartment and access to a vehicle also, at least top talent from overseas. Last I checked the country is not an income tax free ones though it very low at %11.5 for someone in at the pay rate he would be at federally but at the canton level it is generally much much higher. On cantonal level, tax rates vary heavily with a maximum rate in Zurich of approximately 41.3%, compared to 23.1% in Zug of, 32.6% in Lucerne, 41.5% in Lausanne and to 48.0% in Geneva (all rates including federal income tax).

A generally idea of salaries in Europe in 2021

EUROPE
KHL – 75,000 To 5million
Swiss NLA – 90,000 To 500,000
Sweden SHL – 55,000 To 275,000
Finland Liiga – 40,000 To 200,000
Czech Extraliga – 50,000 To 190,000
German DEL – 45,000 To 150,000
Swiss NLB – 50,000 To 140,000
Austria, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, SLovakia EBEL League – 25,000 To 135,000
UK EIHL – 25,000 To 100,000
Sweden Allsvenskan – 20,000 To 65,000
Norway Get Ligaen – 20,000 To 60,000
German DEL 2 – 20,000 To 40,000
Austria, Italy, Slovenia ALPS League – 15,000 To 40,000
Denmark Metal Ligaen – 15,000 To 35,000
France Magnus – Under 50,000
Slovakia Extraliga – Under 40,000
Sweden Division 1 – Under 35,000
Finland MESTIS – Under 35,000
German Oberliga – Under 30,000
France Division 1 – Under 20,000
UK NIHL – Under 20,000
Belgium/Netherlands BeNe League – Under 20,000
Poland Ekstraliga – Under 50,000
Italy – Elite – Under 40,000

He is also married with 2 kids I think and lives in New Jersey during the off season, a lot easier to stay close to home in the NHL than move to Europe where his family might not come and thus not see them for long stretches.

Why is someone from Ottawa googling nonsense and explaining it to a european? You talk about tax rates you dont even understand and that doesnt apply to foreign hockey players as well as made up salaries thats been estimated and doesnt take into account for a team like SC Bern that averages 17k in the audience nor the fact that salaries in NLA has exploded to the point where salary caps has been talked about for a while.

In switzerland income is a bit of taboo so real figures are seldom reported but there has been talk of non-top players getting paid up to 300k now. So yea, a guy like Carter would be a huge draw and would probably get a nice pay as well.

 

[beowulf]

Why is someone from Ottawa googling nonsense and explaining it to a european? You talk about tax rates you dont even understand and that doesnt apply to foreign hockey players as well as made up salaries thats been estimated and doesnt take into account for a team like SC Bern that averages 17k in the audience nor the fact that salaries in NLA has exploded to the point where salary caps has been talked about for a while.

In switzerland income is a bit of taboo so real figures are seldom reported but there has been talk of non-top players getting paid up to 300k now. So yea, a guy like Carter would be a huge draw and would probably get a nice pay as well.

Why is a European talking out of his arse about an NHL players who is still effective and producing is suddenly going to give that up to play in Europe?

Who says I don't understand the tax rates? Those are the average salaries in the league as of right now. As far as I am aware, nobody in the NLA makes millions a year as you suggest he would get there. But nice try buttercup.

 

[SEALBound]

SEAL's decision-making process as a UFA in 2022.

"What's the NHL's / US / Canada's plan on COVID again?"
*looks at plan outline*
"Thank you, I'm going to Switzerland"

 

[SundherDome]

right after the cup run

Where is he being traded to?

 

[Kaner9]

Mike Richards is waiting for him over there.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

He's made his money.

I'd live in Switzerland if I could. North America blows.

 

[ETTER DE]

Why did a lot of european soccer stars choose to play in the MLS when they could have made considerably more money playing in Europe? For the new experience. When you have made a fortune and won the championships many wants to try new things while they are still able to. I do not see why this should be different for other athletes.