Jaromír Jágr, who is ranked second in active players in career goals, assists, and points, will play next season for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League. Avangard Omsk   is one of 24 teams that will comprise the new Continental Hockey League set to launch in September.

The 36-year-old Jágr, who hales from the Czech Republic, played for Avangard Omsk during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

While contract details were not made public, the deal is reportedly a 2 year, $7 million tax free (approx. $11 million when removing taxes). There is an option year, as well, and a “no-out” clause meaning Jágr is locked in for the duration of the contract.

"It was the toughest decision in my life, hockeywise. ... No question about it. I hate making changes," Jágr told The Canadian Press.

Since 1990, Jágr has played for the Penguins, Capitals, and Rangers.

Over 1,273 NHL games, he had amassed 1,599 points on 646 goals and 953 assists.

The question is, will there be more players jumping over to the Continental Hockey League? The league has deep pockets.

Alexander Medvedev, who is the deputy chief executive officer of Gazprom, the largest company in Russia, and Russian Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretiak, announced plans to launch the new league earlier this year.

The NHL's all-time winningest coach, Scott Bowman, and former NHLPA's executive director Bob Goodenow are involved in the CHL.

At the same time, the NHL announced recently that the salary cap will increase from $50.3 million to $56.7 million, an increase of $6.4 million.

The max one player can earn in the upcoming season? $11.34 million, just over what Jágr will pull in without taxes in the CHL.

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Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

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