Quote:
Originally Posted by Itse
It will certainly be an interesting experiment. First team outside of the former east bloc to do this I believe.
However, there's been so much talk of western teams joining the KHL over the years that I'll believe it when I see it.
It could open the floodgates however. The theoretical potential for a pan-European league is huge and Finland is the first rich western country with a strong hockey history in the KHL. (Czech being a bit of a borderline case as always.)
I'll have to say this lights an interest in Jokerit for me. Quality of hockey in SM-liiga has been on a downward spiral for years now anyway, so any change is welcome.
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Although communist, Croatia (well, Yugoslavia) was not technically considered part of the Eastern Bloc. The Soviet Union considered them a rogue nation and they were heavily aided by the "West" during the cold war. The Soviet Union never invaded and occupied them like they did "Eastern Bloc" countries.