Yle: A salary bomb is brewing in the league - Jokerit struck a huge deal, Jaakko Lantta doubled his income

The salaries of league players have risen exceptionally high for the upcoming season, reports Yle Urheilu.

The background is a reform of the league model, which has increased the fear of relegation among clubs and tightened competition for the same players. Many clubs are perceived to be overreacting to the situation. The fear of relegation drives clubs to pay higher salaries to ensure their place in the top league in the coming seasons.

Particularly, Helsinki Jokerit has been a visible player in the player market. The club has made several expensive contracts that have raised the salary level across the league.

According to Yle, KalPa’s American forward Patrick Curry is moving to Jokerit with a net contract of nearly 200,000 euros. The total value of the contract, including taxes and employer contributions, rises to about 400,000 euros.

The salary level has also risen sharply for domestic players. Jaakko Lantta, moving from KalPa to Ilves, nearly doubles his income. According to Yle, his annual income will rise to nearly 140,000 euros.

– A player who previously earned 75,000–80,000 euros now earns 130,000–140,000, one sports director described the development to Yle.

Tappara’s sports director Janne Vuorinen warns of the risks of this development and fears that not all clubs will withstand the salary competition.

– There has been an overheating in the market. The risk is that some clubs will completely collapse. Some will then cut from the junior side and wherever else. The risk is that someone will fail, Vuorinen says.