Quoting: MTLaveragefan
we do it to lure Romanov in North America... his KHL team is "blackmailing him" to stay in Russia. (tying his playing time with him signing an extension in Russia)
Romanov's based his decision on if his teams still a contender.
that's based on if Kaprisov and Sorokin leave for the NHL and
if they can re-sign Nesterov , Vey , and Gregerenko
Chances are they all leave as the latter 3 are getting older and chasing paychecks with no NHL return really there for them .(they'll play and make more in KHL)
that said Karpisov and Sorokin are still young and comfortable
they're reigning champs on the league's best team by double digit margin and favored again this year
both can make 3-4X what the NHL's ELC pays and at a time KHL is expanding into markets NHL has failed to capture routinely
they'd be smarter staying in Russia with a lockout just around the corner destroying their team now just to come back in a 2 years has little upside if we're being honest