Pros and Cons of playing hockey outside of North America
- Thread starter steveayres35
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Language is not a barrier in Europe. Most people speak English pretty well.
As for KHL: most know English better in comparison with knowing Russian in NHL, so it’s a lesser problem as well
And in KHL teams are ready to pay more, than in AHL
As for KHL: most know English better in comparison with knowing Russian in NHL, so it’s a lesser problem as well
And in KHL teams are ready to pay more, than in AHL
Pro athletes have a tendency to try and be as good as possible. They aim to be the best among highest of competition. NHL is that in hockey. Without a doubt. But after that the highest competition is in Europe. KHL and SHL are without a doubt better leagues than AHL. Then there is something like FEL and NLA which can be argued to be better or at least at same competition level than AHL.
It is not only KHL that pays more. Teams in SHL and NLA will pay more. Teams in FEL will pay more for the best players in the league. Probably some teams in Germany and Czech also.
If you're good it's more money in the SHL, SM-Liiga, NLA, as well as the KHL. Some North Americans make the trip over to play in the 2nd leagues too: e.g. Alex Lavoie. That can't be more money than the AHL, probably less, but the experience of living abroad is something desirable to many 20 year olds, and not something that everyone gets to do. Moreover, it's more difficult to do once you have a wife, kids, mortgage over here. So there's a ''now or never'' aspect to it I would imagine.
Plus, I think there's real wisdom behind ''being young when you're young.'' Go on an adventure, FFS. Even though Liam Reddox won't ever play in the NHL again, I bet you he has some cool stories to tell the grand kids about leaving it all behind, moving to Sweden, playing beside a future NHL superstar, and captaining Växjö to an SHL championship. Tell me there are any cons with his situation.
Plus, I think there's real wisdom behind ''being young when you're young.'' Go on an adventure, FFS. Even though Liam Reddox won't ever play in the NHL again, I bet you he has some cool stories to tell the grand kids about leaving it all behind, moving to Sweden, playing beside a future NHL superstar, and captaining Växjö to an SHL championship. Tell me there are any cons with his situation.
Eisen
Registered User
Shorter schedule and less travel is certainly a plus in many Euroepan leagues.
53or8
Registered User
- Nov 20, 2016
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Why play in bakersfield or stockton when you could play in Stockholm?
Essentially better everything in europe
Essentially better everything in europe
teravaineSAROS
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- Jul 29, 2015
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As someone who moved to a different country and feeling refreshed by it.. I don't see how a change of scenery is automatically a con.
Also people speak English in a lot of the countries over here.
If teenagers from Europe can to to the CHL or USA at such a young age without struggling and having a "culture shock" to the tooootally foreign western culture I don't see why adults would have such a problem with it.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
In before someone says players in Canada play outside of America.
- Oct 23, 2014
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A not-so-surprising European cope. Do you happen to value World Championships over Stanley Cup Championships too?
Last edited:
AHL/ECHL < KHL/European leagues
IMO, I'd rather play overseas than in America, but playing in the US wouldn't be the worst thing in the world...
IMO, I'd rather play overseas than in America, but playing in the US wouldn't be the worst thing in the world...
Canada.
But for real, AHL has veterans limit and that really lowers the spots and ice time available.
More downtime could also mean you can study for a career post hockey.
But for real, AHL has veterans limit and that really lowers the spots and ice time available.
More downtime could also mean you can study for a career post hockey.
They get paid more in a lot of these cases.
That's really it. No one is going to Russia because they want to experience the country. They go because the KHL pays better than the AHL.
That's really it. No one is going to Russia because they want to experience the country. They go because the KHL pays better than the AHL.
Do you fully understand what playing in the AHL and even moreso ECHL means from both perspectives of hockey AND comfort/way of life etc.?
Hockeywise it's a huge step back, especially if you have hopes to rebound to a higher level. And the longer you stay in the minors the bigger the stamp of a "career AHLer" gets on your forehead. There a couple of leagues outside NA that are considerably above the AHL hockey wise and also keeping the verbal psychology in mind they are not minors. People will say you are playing in an "inferior" league, but they can't say you are in the minors.
Non-hockey factors are even more numerous and obvious. NA minors mean bus rides and pay very mediocre money especially compared to the NHL. If you are looking for comfort you can play in Switzerland. Thay still pay reasonable money, every away game is a couple of hours ride away at the most and you live in the Alps basically in the middle of Europe with easy access to whatever nice places there are in Europe. You might not have the time as a player, but the family will definitely enjoy the benefits. And the swiss league is still competitive too.
If you are looking for a challenge hockey wise the KHL is your choice as the 2nd best league worldwide and a better chance to revive your career in the NHL. If you shine in the KHL you might get offers from NHL teams. Obviously KHL is not comfortable Switzerland, the travel is more than in the NHL although with the same comfort, but exhausting flights over like 10 time zones(mostly not in one piece of course) is what awaits you. KHL pays way more than the european leagues(not as much as crazy conspiracy theory fans and russian-factor-adepts here picture it to be), so if you are looking to earn some money for your family going forward it's the 2nd best option after the NHL too.
I think the culture shock thing gets overrated especially now in the age of internet. With a phone and a computer and TV at home you can talk to your family and friends all over the world, watch your favorite shows whenever you want in whatever language and even get help with catching a cab, ordering food or shopping. It was very different not so long ago when you would basically really be on your own in a distant country cut off from all the familiar things. Of course living as an expat still remains a challenge not every family is eager to accept, but that is a case by case scenario. Some people love to learn languages, explore different cultures and countries, some not so much.
Some actually do. Not everyone is not able to think outside a small box.
I would not extrapolate that on all of Europe. In Northern Europe - yes.
What if he does? Why should I care so much about a whatever storied and "hard to win" local cup from the other side of the world?
If the money was equal, 99% of players would choose AHL over KHL if they're Canadian/American. And obviously vice versa in the case of Russians.
Not 99% obviously, but it also has to do with mentality. North american culture, especially the US one is extremely isolationistic. I am not saying it's bad. It is what it is. Every culture is different. But say ask a German if is intersted in living outside his native country for a while, the percentage would be overwhelmingly different from the US. On the other hand there are cultures even more isolationist than the US. It's okay. The world is a huge place with all the different approaches.
I'm not saying guys don't value the experience of living abroad. Some certainly would like that.
But ultimately it's about the money. These guys can only play so long. So most (wisely) go play where they can maximize earnings. That's especially important for guys who aren't good enough to be NHLers.
Of course. That is why (aging) football players go to China now. There is btw a new hockey trend in Russia. Russians go to South Korea. The most prominent being Frolov.
But a lot of young European players do struggle when they head over to North America. Nothing wrong with that. Some people deal with their new surroundings, language, feelings of isolation, etc. quicker than others.
I have several friends and a family member who went to Europe to play after their respective CHL/NCAA/Minors careers in North America ended. They all had good things to say about the experience... But it's not always easy, especially if you're heading over with a girlfriend/wife and kids and have to concern yourself with schools, visas, work permits, etc..
The plus side is that many things like housing and a car are covered by the team. Also, the schedule (fewer games, mostly on weekends) and travel (for instance, Ontario is 26 times bigger than Switzerland!), make many Euro leagues more attractive to players with family than the AHL or ECHL.
LordNeverLose
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LordNeverLose
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