NHL Opener Won’t Take to the Ice in Russia Next Season

A deal for the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) to open the 2011-12 season in Russia seems to be over.

Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) President Alexander Medvedev stated: “It looks like we will not see much matches next season. And we have only one reason that the NHL due to their, sort of say, exclusively business-like approach.”

Reports suggest that the NHL asked for a guarantee of US$2-$3m for the trip to happen which the KHL saw as “unreasonable” as the Russian league would not have been able to break even “due to Russian hockey economic streams.” 

Speaking of the revenue guarantee claim, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said: “I am not prepared to disclose the substance of our discussions, but I will confirm that the discussions did not result in an agreement to bring NHL teams to Russia for next year”