I'm certain Edmonton-area radio personality Jason Gregor is going to blog about a conversation he had today with player agent Brian Lawton. I don't want to rip off Gregor's story, so all credit for any of this blog goes to him and that show. I'll also provide a simplified retelling of what was discussed so there's plenty of reason to look up the work he deserves credit for. Great stuff, Gregor.

It appears Kovalchuk and Devils President, CEO and General Manager Lou Lamoriello have been discussing a potential return to Russia and the KHL for some time. As you know, Kovalchuk played over there during the lockout, and he rather enjoyed it. The Devils had a bit of a time getting him to come back.

Everyone keeps talking about Kovalchuk's huge, long-term contract with 11 years remaining on it, and how walking away from the $77mil the Devils were set to pay him was a huge slap in the face to fans and the organization. Well don't cry for me, Argentina: Kovalchuk is going to sign a huge contract with SKA of the KHL, and he could make as much as double. He'll never be allowed to return to the NHL ever again, but when you have all the money in the world, who cares where you live.

So why are the Devils okay with this? Because they are broke and they're trying to sell the team. According to Kovalchuk's contract, the team would have been on the hook for around $55mil over the next five years. Try selling a hockey team with a financial burden such as that one attached. The Devils are completely okay with Kovalchuk leaving. It solves a problem for them

Everyone needs to quit panicking and calm down. Quite honestly, I think this is stupid. If I owned a hockey team, I wouldn't want a star player who didn't want to be there, and I'd certainly keep my eye on my bottom line at all times. It sounds like both parties came up with a mutual solution, and that's great. Best of luck to the Devils and to Kovalchuk. No hard feelings, but you're not welcome back....ever....just so you know.

If I'm the NHL I'm investigating this closely, as the situation could open the door for a range of contract challenges from many players in the future. That pesky KHL experiment has yet to break down and disappear, and the NHL must protect its interests. Perhaps one way to get the message across is to pull out of the Sochi Olympics unless an iron-clad set of policies are created to protect NHL teams from other player moves like this, or teams themselves for that matter, from breaching contracts that were made in good faith.

Should other situations like this one occur, it could be a new and uglier way for players and teams to circumvent the rules of the salary cap, and that concerns me. In an ideal world, all parties in a contract should be required to live up to all aspects of it.

Kovalchuk is going to get paid tomorrow. The Devils? Perhaps saved. Losing one of the best forwards in hockey as a way to solve a problem? The NHL is indeed a funny little world.

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