[News] Federal government advises Canadian KHL players to leave

[Reggie Dunlop]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/feds-t...-out-1.6087304

Things could turn ugly...

[btimbit]

Been telling Canadians to leave for a while, interesting to see them target hockey players specifically

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Been telling Canadians to leave for a while, interesting to see them target hockey players specifically

Cause a lot of hockey players are still there. For some reason they don't seem to be getting the message. I won't feel sorry for anyone who stays and ends up in jail or worse. So many ppl make these choices then cry for help when it goes wrong.

[FlamesAddiction]

I noticed just a couple of weeks ago Tyler Ennis signed over there. If they want to take the risk, that is on them. If something happens, don't start asking Canada for help though.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I noticed just a couple of weeks ago Tyler Ennis signed over there. If they want to take the risk, that is on them. If something happens, don't start asking Canada for help though.

Ya, I still can't get over it when a government does a "prisoner" exchange. Athletes for literal terrorist. Blows my mind.

[FunkMasterFlame]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Cause a lot of hockey players are still there. For some reason they don't seem to be getting the message. I won't feel sorry for anyone who stays and ends up in jail or worse. So many ppl make these choices then cry for help when it goes wrong.

Ends up in jail? For playing hockey?

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by FunkMasterFlame

Ends up in jail? For playing hockey?

Yes..political prisoners are a thing. So when the government warns you and says come home and you don't... that's on you.

[JohnnyB]

This quote from the article seems pretty reasonable to me. I don't think it would be an easy decision for people to leave their job in what is a very niche career without many transferable skills in a time of global economic turmoil and impending global recession.

“We live in a world where individuals are allowed to make those decisions. It’s just an individual decision related to an employment opportunity,” Winter said. “Has every player that’s gone, push, tugged and pulled and wrestled with the decision? Yeah, absolutely.

“At the end of the day, they’re husbands and fathers who have responsibilities to their families. If you’re a young family with limited resources because you played mostly in the minors, there’s a desire to take care of your family.

“Sometimes that leads people to the oilfields in Kazakhstan and sometimes it leads them to the KHL.”

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Yes..political prisoners are a thing. So when the government warns you and says come home and you don't... that's on you.

But signaling out a few hockey players is just incredibly dumb and reeks of posturing, which is all to common with this spineless government. Obviously anyone over there is highly aware of the risks.

I'm not aware of any special announcements like this targeting other sectors that are most certainly still conducting business in these areas. Just a few month ago SNC-Lavalin was still doing business with the Russians....enough said.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

This quote from the article seems pretty reasonable to me. I don't think it would be an easy decision for people to leave their job in what is a very niche career without many transferable skills in a time of global economic turmoil and impending global recession.

That is true for probably most of them. In the case of Tyler Ennis, he has career earnings of $32 million so I thought it was a little crazy to go there. Unless he is dumb, he should already be set up for life. He could have likely signed on in somewhere like Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, or Sweden if he still wanted to play for money and not be taking the huge risk. I realize that the KHL may pay more, but as winter mentioned, many of these guys are fathers and husbands first. That should override money every day.

[FunkMasterFlame]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Yes..political prisoners are a thing. So when the government warns you and says come home and you don't... that's on you.

The only Western athlete I can think of being arrested by Russia was Brittney Griner, and that's because she was caught carrying drugs with her. I don't know of any other "political prisoner" athletes in Russia.

Not to say that they wouldn't do that. Just saying there's no recent history of that happening that I can remember at least.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

This quote from the article seems pretty reasonable to me. I don't think it would be an easy decision for people to leave their job in what is a very niche career without many transferable skills in a time of global economic turmoil and impending global recession.

I think it's an asinine take. How will they support their young families from a Russian prison? Sure the chances of that now seem incredibly low, but this isn't a situation that appears to have a short-term resolution in sight. And I'm quite confident there are hundreds of jobs they could find in any other country, but they want that KHL salary which dwarfs the standard 80k per year that they could make and still support their young families.

[FlamesAddiction]

I just noticed that Hunter Shinkaruk, Michal Chaput, and Ryan MacInnis literally just transferred to the KHL today. The deals may have been done a lot earlier, but still, not great timing.

[Cycling76er]

Originally Posted by Groot

but they want that KHL salary which dwarfs the standard 80k per year that they could make and still support their young families.

This must be an Alberta thing. 80k is damned good money around these parts (and most of Canada I would assume). Most people, myself included, can't just go out and find jobs that pay this much.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I noticed just a couple of weeks ago Tyler Ennis signed over there. If they want to take the risk, that is on them. If something happens, don't start asking Canada for help though.

So no Operation Lion II

[Locke]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

This quote from the article seems pretty reasonable to me. I don't think it would be an easy decision for people to leave their job in what is a very niche career without many transferable skills in a time of global economic turmoil and impending global recession.

Yeah well, the KHL is notoriously sketchy regarding pay at the best of times and their contracts are probably valued and paid out in Rubles.

I'd be getting the hell out if I were there.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Cause a lot of hockey players are still there. For some reason they don't seem to be getting the message. I won't feel sorry for anyone who stays and ends up in jail or worse. So many ppl make these choices then cry for help when it goes wrong.

A lot of every profession are still there. They just know that with NHL starting soon they can get a lot of media coverage targetting hockey players

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Cycling76er

This must be an Alberta thing. 80k is damned good money around these parts (and most of Canada I would assume). Most people, myself included, can't just go out and find jobs that pay this much.

That's not an Alberta thing, that's a CP thing.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Cycling76er

This must be an Alberta thing. 80k is damned good money around these parts (and most of Canada I would assume). Most people, myself included, can't just go out and find jobs that pay this much.

If you’re struggling on $80k/year in Alberta you’re probably living beyond your means. Even with the current inflation, it’s easily manageable.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by btimbit

A lot of every profession are still there. They just know that with NHL starting soon they can get a lot of media coverage targetting hockey players

I think they know that hockey players, being relatively high profile and famous, have a high value for propaganda purposes. If John Smith who works for SNC-Lavalin gets taken prisoner or gets coerced into denouncing NATO, not too many people are going to bat an eye. If it is someone people know, like an ex-NHLer, former junior star, or someone who has represented Canada at international competitions, it becomes bigger news.