On one side KHL wants to give big money to the likes of SKA and ZSKA, but on the other hand they would not like to spend the same money abroad. They would like to have salary gap, but not for all. So should they remake the whole competition? Build it, in kind of a two level system. First level could be renamed something like Russian Super League and the second level could continue with the old name KHL.
In the new RSL would play SKA, ZSKA, Omsk, AK Bars, UFA and Magni. They would play one game against every KHL team and then eight games against every other team in the new RSL. That should amount to 60 games (1x20 + 8x5). In new RSL there would be no salary gap and foreigner limit would go up to 8 or even 10. This competition would pause for EHT tournaments (if need be), because the core of the russian national team would play here.
KHL would continue with 20 teams, divided in two conference and four division.
Western Conference:
Bobrov: S.Bratislava, D.Riga, Jokerit, D.Minsk and Vitjas
Tarasov: D.Moscow, S.Moscow, Sevestral, Sochi and Jaroslav
Eastern Conference:
Kharlamov: Torpedo, Lada (gets back in), Neftehimik, Cheljabinsk and Jekaterinburg
Chernyshev: Barys, Sibir, Kunlun, Admiral, Amur
These teams would play once against every new RSL teams, twice against every teams in other divisions and six times against every team in home division. That should amount to 60 games (1x6 + 2x15 + 6x4). In this new KHL there would be hard salary gap and foreigner limit for every russian teams would be five. This competition would not pause for EHT tournaments, because they have to travel more in regular season.
Playoffs:
In new KHL eight teams would go to playoffs (four best teams from both conference) and they would play for the victory of continental competition. On the other side all six new RSL teams will get to playoffs too and two best russian teams from KHL, that failed to get in KHL playoff. These teams would play for the victory of Russian hockey. Then both winners will meet in gagarin cup final.