There has been lots of controversy over and in the Continental Hockey League, which is known as the KHL.
The KHL is made up mostly of Russian players, plus a few from Eastern European countries but there are a number of Canadian and American players, most with NHL experience, joining the league.
The top team in the KHL today is Ufa Salavat Yulayev which has Alexander Radulov, who was considered a rising star in the NHL. He was born in Russia. Radulov has 20 goals and 27 assists in 48 games.
Ufa also has Steve McCarthy, a Canadian who played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, and Atlanta Thrashers.
In second place is Mytishchi Atlant, with Ray Emery, a Canadian who played five seasons with the Ottawa Senators.
Jaomar Jagr's team is Omsk Avangard, and in 13th place. He has 25 goals and 26 assists in 49 games. The team has two other former NHLers—John Graham, an American, played for the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes. He was the goaltender for Team USA in 2007. They also have Jakub Klepis, from the Czech Republic, played for the Washington Capitals a few years ago.
Ray Giroux, another Canadian in the KHL, played for the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils and is now with St. Petersburg in the KHL, along with David Nemirovsky, a Canadian who played for the Florida Panthers, several years ago.
Pierre Dagenais, a Canadian who played for the New Jersey Devels, Florida Panthers, and the Montreal Canadiens, now plays with Chelybanisk Traktor of the KHL.
Mike Fountain, a Canadian who played for the Ottawa Senators almost a decade ago, plays for Tolyatti Lada of the KHL.
Matta Ellison, Mark Hartigan, and Duvie Westcott are Canadians playing with Riga Dynamo, alongside Marcel Hossa, from Slovakia.
Hossa played for the Canadiens, Rangers, and Coyotes. Ellison played with the Blackhawks and Flyers. Hartigan played with the Red Wings, Blue Jackets, and Thrashers, in the NHL. Westcott also played for the Blue Jackets.
Kirby Law, from Canada, played for the Flers, and is now with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik in the KHL.
Joel Kwiatkowski, a Canadian, played for the Senators, Capitals, Panthers, Pengins, and Thrashers, in the NHL, and now plays for the Cherepovets Severstal in the KHL.
Astana Barys has three Canadians with NHL experience: Kevin Dallman, Trevor Letowski, and Marc Lamothe. Dallman played for the Blues and the Kings, Letowski played for the Canucks, Blue Jackets, and Hurricanes, and Lamothe was with the Blackhawks and the Red Wings for a couple of games.
Jeff Jillson, an American, who played for the Sharks, Bruins, and Sabres, plays for Balashikha MVD, along with three Canadians: Jame Pollock, J.F. Fortin, and Michael Garnett. Pollock played for the Blues, briefly, Fortin played for the Capitals, and Garnett was with the Thrashers.
Bryce Lampman, an American who played for the Rangers for several games, is now with Khabarovsk Amur, along with three Canadians: Nolan Pratt, Kyle Wanvig, and Tyler Moss.
Pratt played for the Huricanes, Avalanche, Lightning, and Sabres; Wanvig was with the Minnesota Wild; and Moss played for the Flames, Hurricanes, and Canucks.
Ross Lupaschuk played a few games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is now with Novosibirsk Siber of the KHL along with another Canadian, Tom Lawson.
Four Americans and five Canadians play for Minsk Dynamo. Ben Clymer, an American, played for the Lightning and Capitals; Jeff Giuliano, from New Hampshire, played two seasons with the Kings; Justin Morrison, from Los Angeles, was drafted by the Canucks; Doug Nolan, from Massachusettes, was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs; Brian Muir, from Winnipeg, played with the Oilers, Blackhawks, Lightning, Avalanche, and Kings; Jeff Plante comes from Toronto and played for the Blue Jackets; Jeff Ulmer, from Regina, played for the Rangers for a season; Mike Manaluk from Winnipeg played for the Blackhawks, Rangers, Flyers, and Blue Jackets; and Andy Chiodo, from Toronto, played several games with the Penguins.
There are five Canadians playing for Chekhov Vityaz: Chris Simon played with the Quebec Nordiques, the Avalanche, Capitals, Blackhawks, Rangers, Flames, Islanders, and Wild; Derek Walso played for the Blue Jackets; Ahren Nittel was drafted by the Devils; Darcy Verot had a season with the Capitals; and Nathan Perrot played for the Leafs and the Dallas Stars. Bryan Bedard, from Rhode Island, played for the Islanders, Leafs, Rangers, Bruins, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets.
