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For the second consecutive year, the New Jersey Devils lost one of the premier forwards in the NHL for nothing.
Last year, the Devils lost their Captain, Zach Parise, coming off a season where the Devils were just a couple wins away from a Stanley Cup.
Parise said it was his goal to re-sign all along, and despite him testing free agency, many still thought he'd return to New Jersey. That wasn't the case as he decided to go home to play with Minnesota.
That one stung the Devils and their fan base, but the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk this summer might be even worse.
Kovalchuk was unquestionably the best player on the Devils. He was electric, explosive, dynamic and loved by Devils fans.
He could produce 80+ point seasons on a regular basis. He could score 30+ goals on a regular basis. He could get the fans out of their seats every time he touches the puck.
Kovalchuk had 12 years remaining on his contract and was set to be a Devil for the remainder of his career.
Now, he's gone.
Kovalchuk has left the Devils to do what Parise did last season: go home. Kovalchuk wants to be with his family in Russia and is going to do just that.
He left 12 years and $77 million on the table, but you can bet he'll make more than that while playing in Russia.
The thing that will hurt Devils fans the most isn't Kovalchuk leaving the team. It's how he is leaving. Kovalchuk is breaking a long-term commitment to walk away from the Devils and the state of New Jersey.
What makes it worse is all the trouble the Devils faced for bringing Kovalchuk to New Jersey.
New Jersey traded Johnny Oduya, Patrice Cormier, Niclas Bergfors, a 1st round pick and 2nd round pick to acquire Kovalchuk from Atlanta. Then they circumvented the cap to try and meet his contract demands and will forfeit their 1st round pick next season because of it.
They went through a ton of trouble to get No. 17 on the team long-term, and just a few years into his 15 year contract, he's leaving.
The Devils lose their best, most electric player and get nothing in compensation. They'll lose their 1st rounder next year as punishment for signing a guy who left the team 1/5 into his contract.
It's not fair to the Devils, but life isn't fair.
The Devils won't be the same without Kovalchuk, but they'll move on without him.
Devils President and General Manager, Lou Lamoriello, has said all throughout his career that one player doesn't make a team. No matter how good that player is, Lamoriello truly believes that.
He echoed those sentiments yesterday during the conference call. When Lamoriello was asked if Kovalchuk leaving puts the Devils in a big hole, he quickly and confidently said "No."
Lamoriello was later asked if he had a message for the fans. He did. Lamoriello took a second to gather his thoughts and calmly told the media that he will do everything in his power to put the best possible team on the ice, and that the Devils will be ready come October.
Lamoriello is a man of his word, and you can bet the Devils will be ready.
He won't be able to replace what Kovalchuk brought to the table. Nobody will bring what he brought to the table.
That said, the Devils have some options, either via free agency or via trade, to try and help replace some of what Kovalchuk brought to Devils.
Damien Brunner, for example, is a 27-year-old winger who can score goals and produce points. He's available and could be had. Will he produce 80 points a season? No. But he could be a 50+ point guy and he'd come at half the price Kovalchuk cost.
Nobody knows what Lamoriello will do now, but one thing is for sure: he's not going to stand pat.
Lamoriello said yesterday that the fans commitment to the team is greatly appreciated and that he's committed to giving them the best product possible.
Kovalchuk broke his commitment with the team, but Lamoriello isn't about to do the same.
You can bet on that.
**
My take on Marek Zidlicky's extension with the Devils.
Just how good is Reid Boucher?
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