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Pros and Cons of playing hockey outside of North America

The AHL is a quasi-development league that limits the number of veterans a team can dress; so in essence winning takes a back seat to player development. The restrictions on older players combined with the mediocre pay makes the AHL probably not the best league to make a career out of.
 
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I have a friend that went to play in the DEL for a few years.

-The experience was great, got to live in Germany for half the year
-Made more money than he was in the AHL with a more offensive role
-Much easier travel and a much lighter schedule

Doesn't seem like a bad life to me. He said the language barrier wasn't a problem, most people speak English well and after a few years his German was pretty good
 
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mouser said:
There are 7 NHL teams outside of the United States of America.

There are zero NHL teams outside of America.
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No one in canada says they're from america. US is called america since its the only country with america in the name. North, south, and central america are referred to as the americas, not america.
 
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Luigi Lemieux said:
No one in canada says they're from america. US is called america since its the only country with america in the name. North, south, and central america are referred to as the americas, not america.
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This.

Just like nobody in Ireland or Scotland will say they're British even though geographically they technically are. Canadians might technically be American, but don't tell them, that
 
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better food, more peaceful and relaxing, more fun, cleaner healthier environment, no tornadoes, no assault rifles at the high school, governments are better at lying to your face, more fun plus less money means you dont need to worry about how to spend it.
 
joe dirte said:
No, it's common knowledge in hockey circles that you only go to russia for the payday as a hockey player. If youre not russian its just not a desirable place to go. Sweden is. Finland is. Switzerland is. Russia is definitely not.
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It's your personal ignorant oopinio not common knowledge. But feel free to elaborate why EXACTLY Russia is so undesireable. I am expecting a good laugh a la Cold War.
 
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Atas2000 said:
It's your personal ignorant oopinio not common knowledge. But feel free to elaborate why EXACTLY Russia is so undesireable. I am expecting a good laugh a la Cold War.
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Nope. Common knowledge. I know a few that have played there and some that still do.

Russia is a relatively poor country compared to most other hockey nations with high crime rates, horrible attitudes toward women (spousal abuse is legal), and a pile of corruption.
 
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joe dirte said:
Nope. Common knowledge. I know a few that have played there and some that still do.

Russia is a relatively poor country compared to most other hockey nations with high crime rates, horrible attitudes toward women (spousal abuse is legal), and a pile of corruption.
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I know players who played in NA. I don't claim to be in posession of common knowledge about their lives let alone that of each and every one.

I do live in Russia though and I am in posession of first hand knowledge about Russia. Oh, and for that matter I've spent quite some tima abroad in my life and know a thing or two about so called relatively rich countries including the US and Canada.

What you write about Russia is a smirk worthy carbon copy of propaganda from your media. So yes, just as expected. Some hilarious Cold War retrograde nonsense. Try again. Literally nothing you wrote about Russia is close to the truth.
 
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joe dirte said:
No, it's common knowledge in hockey circles that you only go to russia for the payday as a hockey player. If youre not russian its just not a desirable place to go. Sweden is. Finland is. Switzerland is. Russia is definitely not.
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I'm not even going to compare Moscow and S.-Petersburg to some of Swedish vilages (of course, if you have some money), but do you really think, that Sochi is that bad place to live? I'd prefer Sochi to most Sweden places even for an average European wage, and for the KHL money it's no brainer. Now, Magnitogorsk, Nizhnekamsk or Cherepovets are, of course, different stories.
 
Luigi Lemieux said:
No one in canada says they're from america. US is called america since its the only country with america in the name. North, south, and central america are referred to as the americas, not america.
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I'm not sure in english, but in french in Quebec we often compare Europe to America (en Amérique, including canada).
In the context it was used, it was pretty clear the poster was talking about Can+US. I'll never get why some people take such outrage when someone use america for anything but USA. So, they united a few states of America and called it a country and people can't use that word for the other countries anymore ? :sarcasm:
 
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Atas2000 said:
I know players who played in NA. I don't claim to be in posession of common knowledge about their lives let alone that of each and every one.

I do live in Russia though and I am in posession of first hand knowledge about Russia. Oh, and for that matter I've spent quite some tima abroad in my life and know a thing or two about so called relatively rich countries including the US and Canada.

What you write about Russia is a smirk worthy carbon copy of propaganda from your media. So yes, just as expected. Some hilarious Cold War retrograde nonsense. Try again. Literally nothing you wrote about Russia is close to the truth.
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It's all true. Everything I said. You asked, I answered.
 
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Many counties in Europe are simply amazing to live. Everyone needs to go visit Switzerland).
 
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Luigi Lemieux said:
No one in canada says they're from america. US is called america since its the only country with america in the name. North, south, and central america are referred to as the americas, not america.
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Canadians don't identify as Americans no, but unless it's specified as the United States of America it's addressing, also, Canada (and Mexico).
 
Another point is since the AHL/ECHL are development leagues, your playing time may diminish for the developmental benefit of a younger player.

If I have pro talent, but not NHL talent, overseas seems a lot more lucrative and interesting than North America minor leagues.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but the average salary has to be higher in these Top Euro leagues than ECHL and AHL
 
I'm curious how many of them do it partly for the sake of travel. I myself am trying to find a way to move abroad within 6 months or so. If I had a skill like that, and had a club interested in me, I'd be on the next plane to pretty much anywhere.
 
Imagine, getting paid well to play hockey and discover a new country ! Russia, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, I don't care it would be a blast. When I'll have the time I'll try to find an article on a guy like Nigel Dawes. Shipped from teams to teams in the NHL and since then have been a top player in the KHL. I'm pretty sure he's happy right now.

Edit : forgot to add : compare that to riding the bus in the AHL....
 
Kshahdoo said:
I'm not even going to compare Moscow and S.-Petersburg to some of Swedish vilages (of course, if you have some money), but do you really think, that Sochi is that bad place to live? I'd prefer Sochi to most Sweden places even for an average European wage, and for the KHL money it's no brainer. Now, Magnitogorsk, Nizhnekamsk or Cherepovets are, of course, different stories.
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id say many americans could settle in well in cities like moscow and st petersburg. pretty much all the other russian KHL cities would be very difficult. the weather alone in the winter would be enough to drive many americans nuts.
 
If you get paid 6 figures to play Hockey anywhere, it should be a great time.

If you're smart with your money, work on side hustles and generally look for good investment opportunities, you can retire in 10 years and do nothing if you really want just living off of money in an index fund.

Playing in Europe would be an amazing opportunity to experience the world and even a lot of players' heritage (most being European). I don't think there are any "cons" unless you're a very negative person or extremely attached to Canada or the United States for some reason.
 
If I was still young and single, and couldn't quite secure 1-way contracts in NHL, I'd try to do one year deals in Europe. One year in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, England, Russia, Czech Rep., Norway, Switzerland. Realistically you'd make more money getting established in one league, and realistically that would probably take precedence, but what a great experience that would be.
 
byrath said:
If I was still young and single, and couldn't quite secure 1-way contracts in NHL, I'd try to do one year deals in Europe. One year in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, England, Russia, Czech Rep., Norway, Switzerland. Realistically you'd make more money getting established in one league, and realistically that would probably take precedence, but what a great experience that would be.
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Heck if you are just married with no kids wouldn't that be better than playing in the AHL?
 
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