KHL Expansion Part IX

[Rigafan]

Rather than expansion, I would be happy seeing Kunlun back in China as a first step.

At this point why don't they just rebrand them as Red Star Moscow?

 

[Albatros]

Now that the Beijing Hockey Association has taken over the program in China there's little desire for Kunlun to ever return, but for the KHL its current brand still provides a semblance of international presence so why change anything as long as the Chinese side is willing to play along, for reasons that have nothing to do with hockey.

 

[Fil]

Now that the Beijing Hockey Association has taken over the program in China there's little desire for Kunlun to ever return, but for the KHL its current brand still provides a semblance of international presence so why change anything as long as the Chinese side is willing to play along, for reasons that have nothing to do with hockey.

But how is there an Interational brand when they don't play in China It does not seem that hard for them to just go back to Beijing

 

[Albatros]

But how is there an Interational brand when they don't play in China It does not seem that hard for them to just go back to Beijing

The easiest, though, is just to rent facilities in Moscow and hire a bunch of legionnaires to play there. The team is not even supposed to be successful on or off the ice, just to exist for the sake of existing.

 

[GindyDraws]

Now that the Beijing Hockey Association has taken over the program in China there's little desire for Kunlun to ever return, but for the KHL its current brand still provides a semblance of international presence so why change anything as long as the Chinese side is willing to play along, for reasons that have nothing to do with hockey.

Yeah, but it just feels so hollow. Zero actual Chinese talent on a club that will never be good enough for the playoffs.

In other words, perfect for both sides.

 

[GindyDraws]

After the Olympics in 2026 I can see Milano getting a team to compete in KHL with another team coming out of Japan

Um, the only options are countries favorable to Russia and could reasonably support hockey, so that would be:

1. Moving Kunlun back to China (ain't ever happening again)
2. Getting another club in Kazakhstan or Belarus (I don't know if either country has the infrastructure or the population for a second club)
3. Looking at Kyrgyzstan, where bandy is more popular.
4. Out there choices like Iran.
5. Well, promoting teams from the Super league.

 

[Rigafan]

Um, the only options are countries favorable to Russia and could reasonably support hockey, so that would be:

1. Moving Kunlun back to China (ain't ever happening again)
2. Getting another club in Kazakhstan or Belarus (I don't know if either country has the infrastructure or the population for a second club)
3. Looking at Kyrgyzstan, where bandy is more popular.
4. Out there choices like Iran.
5. Well, promoting teams from the Super league.

Kazakhstan and Belarus could probably work but there are plenty of good teams in the VHL that could make the move to KHL and then new teams from below can then go to VHL etc. No need for the international teams.

Whatever people think the name will always be correct using 'Kontinental' and it will always be 'international' with Belarus and Kazakhstan involved!

 

[Caser]

So reportedly AKM Tula team has applied to join the KHL, but there is a tiny little issue - they don't have a proper arena. So if they really want to join now, then will likely have to play somewhere else for the time being while their arena gets rebuilt (or a new one is constructed).

 

[Iceberg9]

What about Pyongyang potentially? Russia and North Korea are friendly countries so maybe it would make sense one day. Correct me if Im wrong, but their national team is active on international scene so why not build a proper team with Russian help. I think that would make KHL more interesting

 

[HungryFrank]

What about Pyongyang potentially? Russia and North Korea are friendly countries so maybe it would make sense one day. Correct me if Im wrong, but their national team is active on international scene so why not build a proper team with Russian help. I think that would make KHL more interesting

North Koreans play in D3B, that's basically a "participation medal" level.

Chinese players were always at solid D2 level and they could barely get on ice in Kunlun's KHL and VHL adventures.

I don't see how a single player could keep up.

Having 100% russian team is another story

 

[Albatros]

Having a Russia-based North Korean team in the women's hockey league would probably be the most plausible form of cooperation, and even that's not going to happen.

 

[ViD]

One good thing about a NK KHL team is that their attendance will steadily be 100%

 

[Albatros]

If they were seriously going to do it, which they are not, the team would probably be located in Samjiyon which is an isolated ski resort with a fairly modern arena and an airport. They could then use the situation to attract Russian tourists from the Far East to this zone.

 

[carjackmalone]

Expansion into Anchorage

 

[Rigafan]

So reportedly AKM Tula team has applied to join the KHL, but there is a tiny little issue - they don't have a proper arena. So if they really want to join now, then will likely have to play somewhere else for the time being while their arena gets rebuilt (or a new one is constructed).

Ive just read that they could potentially be based in Podolsk or Mytishchi - you know only ~120 miles away from Tula to enable them to play in an arena that is big enough for KHL. I don't like that idea really

 

[Albatros]

Kunlun is already playing in Mytishchi in front of a few hundred spectators, adding another team will surely change the fortunes.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

But how is there an Interational brand when they don't play in China It does not seem that hard for them to just go back to Beijing

Did the Chinese think they would have had more Chinese playes developed and playing in the KHL by this time I would think so but it hasn't happened and the only Chinese players worth anything are Chinese Canadians brought there...Maybe Kevin He will be their 1st born that be a decent enough player...

 

[eal]

Getting Kunlun back to China should be a priority. It is currently a zombie team. May as well have an American KHL franchise that plays out of Yakutsk at this point.

 

[Albatros]

In fact Kunlun has already started operating a professional men's team in Shenzhen as a part of the new league in China.

 

[eal]

China has a pro hockey league?

 

[Albatros]

It's hockey, about pro and league one can debate. A couple of tournaments over the winter each in a different city a bit like the EHT or something. Not much public interest or attendance to speak of, but there are some Russian and Belarusian pros, Kunlun has one line of fairly good VHL quality players with some KHL experience. Anton Lazarev even played for the KHL Kunlun team some years ago.

 

[alko]

May as well have an American KHL franchise that plays out of Yakutsk at this point.

 

[carjackmalone]

The Anchorage -Vladivostok rivalry would be epic

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

The Anchorage -Vladivostok rivalry would be epic

lol the best rivalries are always between two completely unrelated towns more than 5000km apart.

London and Washington DC have an excellent sporting rivalry going back generations. I can vividly remember the air of hostility and local pride when Moscow and Calcutta teams faced off against each other. Don't even get me started on the heated contests between Caracas and Buenos Aires. New York and Paris though, that might be top one.