Forward of hockey 'Dinamo-Minsk' wants his salary raised to a million dollars a year. Two others already receive almost that much
Hockey, Alexander Lukashenka's favorite toy, is one of the few areas in Belarus where salaries are equal to or even exceed Western ones. Belarusian hockey players can expect to fall into favor — like Dzmitry Baskau, who controls the most profitable sectors of the Belarusian economy. Foreigners playing in the dictatorial country receive salaries financed by levies on Belarusian businesses.
Alex Limoges on the ice. Photo hockey.by
Last week, the season ended for Minsk's 'Dinamo'. Now the club management is deciding with whom they will go into the next championship — it is necessary to determine the head coach and many hockey players.
Most attention, writes the Belarusian sports publication 'Tribuna', is drawn to the future of forward Alex Limoges, whose contract expires on May 31.
The 28-year-old American became the KHL's third top scorer in the regular season, scoring 73 (24+49) points in 68 matches, and also the best rookie legionnaire in the history of Minsk 'Dinamo'. Within the team, the forward was second only to Sam Anas, who notched 89 (32+57) points in 67 matches. In the playoffs, Limoges' productivity slightly decreased — 1+5 in eight matches.
Negotiations with the American on a new contract began during the season, but an agreement, as with Anas, for example, could not be reached. Before the start of the playoffs, Limoges was asked about his future at 'Dinamo'. «For now, all my thoughts are on the playoffs And what's next?.. We'll see,» — the hockey player evaded a specific answer.
He also avoided specifics immediately after the team's elimination from the Gagarin Cup: «We'll see, time will tell. You know, I was focused on the playoffs… For now, I just want to spend time with friends, and we'll deal with that question later.»
On Saturday, information emerged that Limoges is not extending his contract because he cannot agree with 'Dinamo'. Last year, the forward repeatedly stated that he set a goal to perform well in the Russian league for a year and finally make it to the NHL. After a successful season in North America, options may indeed emerge.
For comparison, here are the top salaries in the KHL at the moment:
Sheldon Rempal ('Salavat Yulaev') — 1.31 million dollars;
Alexander Barabanov, Dmitry Yashkin (both — 'Ak Bars'), Vladimir Tkachev ('Metallurg') — 1.25 million dollars each;
Rocco Grimaldi (SKA) — 1.2 million dollars;
Reid Boucher ('Avtomobilist'), Alex Galchenyuk ('Amur') — 1.18 million dollars each;
Konstantin Okulov ('Avangard') — 1.11 million dollars;
Sergei Tolchinsky ('Metallurg'), Jordan Weal ('Dynamo' Moscow) — 1.05 million dollars each.
Meanwhile, information emerged that Limoges received an offer for the desired amount from SKA, which has creativity issues — the team needs a forward-playmaker, and the legionnaire is perfectly suited for this role. In case of a transfer, the hockey player will go to SKA for free — the forward is about to become an unrestricted free agent.
On Sunday, new insider information emerged — Limoges fell into the sphere of 'Ak Bars'' interests, where they are ready to offer almost 1.2 million dollars.
In addition to Limoges, after May 31, six other legionnaires may leave 'Dinamo' without any restrictions — defenders Darren Dietz and Robert Hamilton, as well as forwards Stanislav Galiev, Vadim Shipachyov, Ryan Spooner, and Kirill Voronin. According to recent reports, Hamilton will say goodbye to the Minsk team, as he has reportedly already agreed to a two-year deal with CSKA. However, the defender's agent, Darryl Wolski, recently issued a refutation — stating that the hockey player is considering offers from five clubs and has not yet signed with anyone.
Dietz is close to changing clubs. It is expected that the Canadian will sign a one-year contract with 'Sibir'. Spooner's future in Minsk is unclear. The forward is not against continuing his career at 'Dinamo' if he receives a new offer, while also already considering options in Germany. Nothing has been said about the club's plans regarding the Russians Galiev, Shipachyov, and Voronin.
Among Belarusians, defenseman Kristian Khenkel and forwards Andrei Stas and Viacheslav Gretsky will become unrestricted free agents at the end of spring.
Most likely, the prospects for Russians and Belarusians will be determined after a decision is made on the head coach for the 2026/27 season. Nothing official has yet been announced about the future of Dmitry Kvartalnov in Minsk. The coach himself has not yet bid farewell to the team and refrains from commenting on his future. According to the latest insiders, Kvartalnov is one of the main candidates for the position of head coach of 'Traktor'. For his place in Minsk, Russian journalist Artur Khairullin names Andrei Mikhalyov — a long-time friend of Dzmitry Baskau, one of the central figures at Alexander Lukashenka's court — as the main contender.
Eighteen hockey players have active agreements with 'Dinamo' for the 2026/27 season: goaltenders Vasily Demchenko, Zach Fucale, Anton Krupavets, Evgeny Prokhorov; defenders Joshua Brook, Daniil Krishtofik, Brady Lyle, Nicolas Meloche, Xavier Ouellet; forwards Sam Anas, Yegor Karaban, Dmitry Khabyan, Bogdan Belkin, Sergei Kuznetsov, Daniil Lipsky, Nikolay Salyga, Daniil Satishvili, and Ilya Usau.