In his interview with the Edmonton Journal all-time Jaromir Jagr was complimentary about the KHL. Indeed, the Czech had reasons to say so, as many of his former NHL mates do. So, why NHL stars prefer the KHL to the NHL?

The Edmonton Journal says the iconic hockey figure compared the KHL with “a breath of fresh air.” At a time when the National Hockey League is full of tough and sometimes dirty action, the KHL seems a kind of a playground where there’s more room to skate, less contact, and much less pressure to be a superstar.

That’s why, when asked about a possible return to the National Hockey League, Jagr said he would definitely play out his 2009-2010 contract with Avangard Omsk.

One thing the decent Czech didn’t mention was the money, though it seems to be one of the main reasons for his staying in Russia.

Jagr allegedly earns around $ 5 million of net payroll. For example, Alexander Ovechkin – in any sense the most valuable NHL player – earns around this figure. But if you look at the players' statistics this season, you find that Jagr provides the most expensive ‘hockey services’ in the world.

For instance, Jagr played 52 games this season, scoring 25 times and gaining 53 points. A simple calculation suggests that the Czech earned $89,000 for a game, $200,000 for a goal and $190,000 for every assist!

Jaromir Jagr (AFP Photo / Vasily Melnichenko)

Meanwhile, 'Alexander the Gr8', in peril of injury, crushed everyone and their brother in the NHL. He played 82 game in the regular season, scored 56 goals, and assisted 54 times. Which means Ovechkin’s goals and assists cost less than Jagr’s, as do the ones by Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk, and a lot of other NHL superstars. Of course, it’s not Jagr’s fault – more power to him!

But one thing is known for sure – while the KHL is inferior to the NHL in terms of management, logistics, and TV ratings, the money the players earn on both sides of the pond are almost the same – the level of hockey is more or less equal as well. That’s why former NHL stars like Jaromir Jagr, Robert Esche, Fredrik Norrena, Niko Kapanen, and many others feel so happy about playing in Russia.