Sweden trying to prevent their junior players from leaving for NA with fine

[sureLoss]

This is from Player agent Allan Walsh:
http://twitter.com/walsha

The Swedish hockey Federation sent a note to all Jr. players in Sweden demanding they sign a contract with the National Team U17,U18+U20.

Contract states that if player leaves Sweden to play hockey in North America before player turns 22, he must pay a $100,000 fine.

This might effect when we see Erixon and Bjorklund here

[Claeren]

It makes some sense, they spend a lot of money developing talent....



Claeren.

[Caged Great]

I'm sure that now you will see $100,000 dollar signing bonuses given to all Swedish players upon signing their regular contracts.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I'm sure that now you will see $100,000 dollar signing bonuses given to all Swedish players upon signing their regular contracts.

Didn't Toronto have to frofeit a draft pick when they gave Frogen a signing bonus to cover the fee for breaking his contract with the SEL?

[Azure]

Big deal.

NHL teams will gladly pay that fine for the player to get him over here.

[kirant]

I'd like to see Erixon over here before he's 22, even if it costs and extra 100k.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Claeren

It makes some sense, they spend a lot of money developing talent....



Claeren.

So do Canadian minor and junior systems, and they get a hell of a lot less than $100,000 per player.

Personally though, I am not opposed to this. For a Swedish kid with NHL aspirations, these demands makes the CHL a rather attractive alternative.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

So do Canadian minor and junior systems, and they get a hell of a lot less than $100,000 per player.

Personally though, I am not opposed to this. For a Swedish kid with NHL aspirations, these demands makes the CHL a rather attractive alternative.

Does this effect players who've already played for Juniors etc but now want to come over?

I do see their point. The Canadian junior systems aren't directly linked to the NHL clubs wheres the Swedes are. So they develop a guy hoping one day he puts on the top leagues uniform and than he bolts. Guys like Hedman, Backstrom etc. So give em some of your earnings, their NHl rookie deal is like 800K a year, so send 100K over to them.

[Resolute 14]

Sounds like they want new contracts to include that clause, so I doubt it would affect players under existing contracts.

And while those guys gross $850k on their rookie deals, after taxes, that fine would probably be over 25% of their net pay. Nevermind the kids who don't jump straight to the NHL, but instead spend time in the AHL - at about $50k per season. If they manage to force this fine, it would have a chilling effect on players coming over.

Also, I am not sure of the status of the transfer agreement between the NHL and the Swedish authorities. If it remains in force, I question how easily the Swedes could enforce this demand if the NHL challenged it.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Sounds like they want new contracts to include that clause, so I doubt it would affect players under existing contracts.

And while those guys gross $850k on their rookie deals, after taxes, that fine would probably be over 25% of their net pay. Nevermind the kids who don't jump straight to the NHL, but instead spend time in the AHL - at about $50k per season. If they manage to force this fine, it would have a chilling effect on players coming over.

Also, I am not sure of the status of the transfer agreement between the NHL and the Swedish authorities. If it remains in force, I question how easily the Swedes could enforce this demand if the NHL challenged it.

Oh noes, I am 20 and I only make $600,000 playing the greatest game in the world. boo hoo

But I am sure most if not all NHL clubs would just give an extra $100k signing bonus (like stated above).

[Resolute 14]

Except that the CBA doesn't allow for bonuses like that. Entry Level bonuses are tied to performance, and the minimum thresholds have to be reasonable.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Claeren

It makes some sense, they spend a lot of money developing talent....



Claeren.

Are there no minor hockey fees in Sweden, do players get free equipment?

Wow, what a paradise this must be.

If they pay registration and ice fees and pay for their own equipment then Sweden doesnt have a leg to stand on and no player of any quality should sign this.

[BurningYears]

im not sure if i am right on this. but each SEL team has a junior team. so if you took the same system here the calgary hitmen would send all their players up to the flames. but i may be way off base here

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by BurningYears

im not sure if i am right on this. but each SEL team has a junior team. so if you took the same system here the calgary hitmen would send all their players up to the flames. but i may be way off base here

Before the draft, that's how the NHL used to do it. All of Quebec belonged to the Canadiens, teams like the junior Kitchener Rangers belonged to NYR, Estevan Bruins belonged to Boston etc.

[Matty81]

that'll be a minor blow to the CHL and a major one to Swedish hockey and the players more than anything

basically limits the players options bigtime, a guy could get mothballed over there and really has no options to come over and play here.

and 22 is ridiculous - I think this is going to stunt the development of Sweden's high end players bigtime. The mid range guys who benefit from the SEL up to 22 will be fine but a really high end player is too good for that league by 19.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Before the draft, that's how the NHL used to do it. All of Quebec belonged to the Canadiens, teams like the junior Kitchener Rangers belonged to NYR, Estevan Bruins belonged to Boston etc.

God I wish that was still the case so we could beat the living s#!# out of Phoenix, Florida, Tampa etc

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Matty81

God I wish that was still the case so we could beat the living s#!# out of Phoenix, Florida, Tampa etc

and be stuck with Toronto and Montreal winning cup after cup? you're high

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Before the draft, that's how the NHL used to do it. All of Quebec belonged to the Canadiens, teams like the junior Kitchener Rangers belonged to NYR, Estevan Bruins belonged to Boston etc.

ahh yea i was right. they must do it the same in europe now so i can see why if you develop a sidney crosby from a toddler and he bolts for the khl i could see you being a little upset and wanting some reimbersment.

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by Matty81

that'll be a minor blow to the CHL and a major one to Swedish hockey and the players more than anything

basically limits the players options bigtime, a guy could get mothballed over there and really has no options to come over and play here.

and 22 is ridiculous - I think this is going to stunt the development of Sweden's high end players bigtime. The mid range guys who benefit from the SEL up to 22 will be fine but a really high end player is too good for that league by 19.

I wonder if there will be an out clause or something the like. Say a player is getting mothballed by their respective Swedish club. The club might have no use for him and allow him to go play in NA. Now that's highly doubtful but it might happen.

Something similar to how Vasteras(?) let Backlund go to Kelowna. He wasn't playing great, wasn't getting ice time, the team didn't like him, he didn't like the team sort of situation. Best for both that he parted ways.

[Sune76]

You know, I hate headlines like this: "Sweden trying to prevent"

Really? It is the swedish hockey federation that is trying to do this, not the actual country sweden as the swedish media and fans are opposed of this.