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The KHL's Board of Directors met today to discuss multiple topics - from the host of All-Star weekend to the list of teams being removed from the league.
The meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims of the shocking tragedy in Siberia, where many people lost their lives in a fire in one of the countries biggest malls.
First thing on their agenda was making the decision - Where to host the 2019 KHL All-Star weekend. The final four candidates were - Helsinki, Omsk, Kazan, and Magnitogorsk. After reviewing pros and cons KHL announced that the 2019 All-Star weekend will be held in Kazan, while woman's and junior tournaments will take place in Nizhnekamsk.
See you in Kazan on January 19-20, 2019 at the #KHLAllStar Weekend! pic.twitter.com/FVO4ipSX7T
— KHL (@khl_eng) March 28, 2018
Minutes later league announced the starting date of the season - For the 1st time since 2014 September 1st will be the date when the 1st regular season game will be played, previously the season had begun much earlier, in August. Teams will play at least 60 games, but the schedule will be created so that teams play more games between the conference and divisional rivals, meaning the number of games will grow from 56 that were played this season.
Scheduling-wise: There will be 3 International breaks during the 2018-19 regular season, each 5 days long for national teams to participate in the Euro Hockey Challenge amongst other things. KHL considers a cross-format in round 3 of 2019 Gagarin Cup Playoffs: Western conference teams might play against Eastern conference teams.
KHL confirms the report that the league will deduct two teams at the end of the month at their board of governors meeting. Wouldn't comment on which teams but assured those two will be Russian.
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) March 12, 2018
Per Sport-Express it's Yugra and Lada.
KHL Board of Directors approved the list of 25 teams for 2018-19 season. Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk and Lada Togliatti will not play in the KHL next season, so instead of deducting as promised three - KHL has removed both teams with the lowest potential rating. Lada and Yugra received support only from FHR/Vladislav Tretiak and a Sibir representative, as the vote was cast. President and Chairman announced later that both teams would move on and play in VHL.
According to rating teams lined-up as follows in the collective potential rating which was the deciding factor in the team deduction according to things like TV ratings, Place in standings etc. SKA, Jokerit, CSKA, Metallurg, Lokomotive, Dynamo Moscow, AkBars, Avangard, Salavat Julaev, Dinamo Minsk, Sibir, Traktor, Torpedo, Barys, Avtomobilist, Sochi, Spartak, Neftehimik, Amur, Slovan Kunlun, Admiral, Dinamo Riga, Severstal, Lada and Yugra.
League is also set to announce 2018-19 season calendar by June 15, 2018.
To improve the transparency and efficiency of clubs, the KHL has established a committee to oversee the financial activities of the KHL clubs. Its purpose: To help in optimizing the activities of clubs and increasing their financial stability.
KHL Board of Directors approved the salary cap for next seasons: 2018-19 – 850 million rubles + 20% fine for violation of soft salary cap 2019-20 – 800 million rubles + 30% fine for violation of soft salary cap 2020-21 – 900 million rubles (hard cap*) *Each team no longer should be allowed to register three players that wouldn't count against the salary cap. In order to encourage clubs to develop young players, the KHL will not take into account the income of players aged 21 and younger in the salary ceiling.