Ice Hockey: NHL pays Karhu-Kissat a large compensation

Helsinki's Karhu-Kissat, a traditional ice hockey club founded in 1954, is celebrating an unexpected financial windfall. The club, which primarily focuses on junior development with 500-600 juniors participating annually, will receive 157,500 euros from the NHL.

This substantial sum stems from the NHL's compensation system for drafted players. Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits, who played for Jukurit for two seasons, was drafted by the NHL and subsequently signed a contract. Because the compensation is calculated based on the four seasons preceding the contract signing, Karhu-Kissat, Smits's former club, is entitled to half of the payout.

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We haven't received a single euro yet.

"We haven't received a single euro yet," admits Matti Pirnes, the club's operations manager, with a laugh. NHL payments are typically disbursed twice a year. Pirnes confirmed the entire amount will be used to support the club's operations and players, enabling longer-term planning.

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It sounds good. We can provide more opportunities for our members. The entire pot will be used for running the players and the club.

Karhu-Kissat's men's team currently competes in the III-division, the fifth tier of Finnish ice hockey. Pirnes clarified that the funds are not intended for recruiting new players for this team, which he described as an adult recreational activity. Many of these players are former Karhu-Kissat juniors who wish to continue playing in their hometown club.

This is a rare event, as NHL development fees rarely reach teams below the top professional leagues. The only other known instance in recent history was in 2019, when the II-division club Kankaanpään Jääkarhut received over 50,000 euros when Ville Heinola signed an NHL contract.

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Significant money, of course, so we can make longer-term plans.