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Ivan Demidov : the SKA “wouldn’t have been able to keep him” due to the payroll mass
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Ivan Demidov : the SKA “wouldn’t have been able to keep him” due to the payroll mass
Credit: Getty Images
Why did SKA let Ivan Demidov go?

There are several elements to answer this question (we tried to answer it yesterday) in the file. And one of those that comes back most publicly is the fact that the Habs may face Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals in the playoffs. #VisibilitiyInRussia

Feel free to believe that SKA released him just for that, but okay.

This version was stated by Alexander Medvedev (a high-ranking SKA official as chairman of the board) in an interview with the match.tv media in Russia. The Hockey News Hub Twitter account also reported the news.

I understand that it will be good for hockey in Russia, but is it really the main reason for Demidov’s departure?

That being said, it’s not necessarily the most striking part, in my opinion, of what Mr. Medvedev said. In my opinion, what needs to be remembered is his comments on salary cap management and Demidov’s contract.

Here’s what he had to say on the subject.

The salary cap for the next season in the KHL makes it virtually impossible to use financial factors in negotiations with players.

We wouldn’t have been able to keep Ivan Demidov in the future. – Alexander Medvedev

The SKA leader stated that if nobody does anything about the fact that players will play where it’s safest, there will be more and more young players deserting the KHL.

Demidov is a 19-year-old and his goal was to play in the NHL. All young Russian talents who are expected to play in the NHL do so because it’s the best league in the world.

Demidov is no different from the others.

Is it really a salary cap issue? If so, the SKA needs to revise how it manages it, because you can’t lose your best player that way. Otherwise, we can wonder if the SKA is making excuses for not convincing him to stay at least one more year.


Overtime

– Speaking of which.

– Sean Monahan found a way to have fun, even without Johnny Gaudreau. [NYT]

– False. But he remains an excellent GM.

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