which is also set to include injured duo Kade Snowden an

MOSCOW -- The Kontinental Hockey League, widely considered the worlds strongest hockey competition outside the NHL, is considering cutting teams because of financial pressure.A recession in Russia, where the KHL is based, and the low price of oil have hurt the fortunes of the Russian state-owned companies and regional governments that fund most teams, pushing several deeply into debt.League president Dmitry Chernyshenko said the KHL board is set to discuss an optimization of the number of clubs taking part, in comments Monday to state agency R-Sport.I think its possible that the league could contract if the board takes that decision, Chernyshenko said.The move occurs months after a significant expansion with the addition of a team in China, a market also being targeted by the NHL for future merchandising growth. However, the Chinese team, split between Beijing and Shanghai, has struggled to attract fans, with attendance below 1,000 at some games at the Shanghai arena.The KHL features 29 teams across eight countries in Eastern Europe and Asia, though most are based in Russia and even the non-Russian teams tend to rely heavily on Russian state funds to meet their wage bills.Last week, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov accused Russian regional governments in financial difficulties of being irresponsible by continuing to sponsor sports teams. Brett Cecil Cardinals Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Ted Simmons Cardinals Jersey . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/114t-ted-simmons-jersey-cardinals.html . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. St. Louis Cardinals Pro Shop . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Tim McCarver Cardinals Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Newcastle coach Nathan Brown says he hasnt spoken to star playmaker Jarrod Mullen about moving on from the NRL club as part of a salary cap clean-out at seasons end.News Corp Australia reported on Sunday that Mullen, who has a $2.2 million deal until 2018, would become the victim of a complete rebuild at the Knights, which is also set to include injured duo Kade Snowden and James McManus, and out-of-favour winger Aku Uate.Brown reiterated the club was vulnerable to other teams advances given their financial position and said a number of senior players were on notice about their future at the club.But he denied having a conversation with Mullen, a fan favourite in Newcastle, about moving on at the end of the season.I havent spoke to him, Brown said.Weve ggot a number of players whose agents have been spoken to and players themselves know where they stand.ddddddddddddWere vulnerable at the moment.Weve got players that if someone came and said (we want) player X, who you wouldnt want to let go, you might have to look at it because of the value they take up of your cap.Were probably where Penrith was six years ago when (Phil Gould) took over.Mullen, who was 18 when he made his NRL debut with the Knights in 2005, signed a four-year deal in 2014, saying he wanted to be a one-club player and emulate Andrew Johns as the player who the next generation of Knights wanted to play with. ' ' '