Trade him to the Rangers

If people think the KHL/NHL agreement is a two way street you are nuts. That deal is only for the KHL's safety, not the NHL. Remember, a lot of KHL teams are owned by russian mob/oil guys. What they say goes. Look at what Geno had to do to come over here, fake his way and fear for his family's life. Its a different world over there and in all honesty, I could see them kidnapping Kovy's family etx. All seems like a real life version of Rollerball to me haha

@SlavaMalamud: "I want to stay in St. Petersburg but I have contractual obligations in the NHL, which will be hard to break" - Kovalchuk to Sport-Express

He wants to stay. Let him stay then NHL.

THIS is te guy you want to be your captain? Really? Pathetic, greedy SOB.
You don't see Datsyuk, Ovi, Malkin saying stuff like that.

Hope NHL makes him stay
- FLYERSROCK!

put yourself in kovy's shoes right now. he's playing in his home country and the KHL probably saw a ton of growth because of him. the KHL president probably begged him to at least stay until the allstar game...imagine how depressing it would be if all the all stars in the KHL leave right before the all star game lol. and maybe he's just saying what he's saying to the russian media so he doesn't look like an bumhole.

your GM is very confident he'll be back so you should give kovy the benefit of the doubt.

@SlavaMalamud: "I want to stay in St. Petersburg but I have contractual obligations in the NHL, which will be hard to break" - Kovalchuk to Sport-Express

He wants to stay. Let him stay then NHL.

THIS is te guy you want to be your captain? Really? Pathetic, greedy SOB.
You don't see Datsyuk, Ovi, Malkin saying stuff like that.

Hope NHL makes him stay
- FLYERSROCK!

Are you really this simple? He's the captain of SKA and he's trying to promote hockey in Russia. No poop he says he would LOVE to stay...but can't.

Much like when you're at a party with people you hate, you make an excuse because you would LOVE to stay...but can't because of "x reason."

Are you really this simple? He's the captain of SKA and he's trying to promote hockey in Russia. No poop he says he would LOVE to stay...but can't.

Much like when you're at a party with people you hate, you make an excuse because you would LOVE to stay...but can't because of "x reason."
- AdamFrench

Are you really this simple? He's the captain of SKA and he's trying to promote hockey in Russia. No poop he says he would LOVE to stay...but can't.

Much like when you're at a party with people you hate, you make an excuse because you would LOVE to stay...but can't because of "x reason."
- AdamFrench

Not that simple
Did you see other Russians, like Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Malkin say they would LIKE to stay in Russia? No you don't. They say their frustrations in a different way, not just totally ditching NJ.

It was a stupid thing for him to say. Really that simple. If he wants to stay, the NHL should let him stay! Then you'll see that NJ, and all other hockey fans will say the same Frenchie.

He could've just simply said "I don't like what the lockout brought to the NHL, I had a fantastic time here in the KHL, which is a great league, but I have a contract in the NHL that I must honor.

Get my drift? He could've said something a lot less stupid

@BJaffe: Amazing how player professes undying love & passion for team few yrs ago after signing $100m deal but now just feels "obligated" to return

This.

@BJaffe: Amazing how player professes undying love & passion for team few yrs ago after signing $100m deal but now just feels "obligated" to return

This.
- FLYERSROCK!

i really don't know how to feel about this whole situation, i think my biggest fear is him being forced to play here and just phoning it in out of frustration...i just wish he didnt mention how hard it is to break a contract, then i would feel a little less slighted by his comments and put it off as making the KHL fans feel important

I find it pretty understandable that a Russian national who is one of the stars of the sport wants to grow the game in the country that he's from but yeah, whatever. #RUSSIANFACTOR

I find it pretty understandable that a Russian national who is one of the stars of the sport wants to grow the game in the country that he's from but yeah, whatever. #RUSSIANFACTOR
- Pomegrant

I see all of the"grow the sport" talk, it's Russia what other sports compete with hockey in Russia? He a selfish piece of garbage and I'm glad the Devils are stuck with him, he's not even a buyout option.

I see all of the"grow the sport" talk, it's Russia what other sports compete with hockey in Russia? He a selfish piece of garbage and I'm glad the Devils are stuck with him, he's not even a buyout option.
- cranford93

I hope the league buys the team out

Not that simple
Did you see other Russians, like Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Malkin say they would LIKE to stay in Russia? No you don't. They say their frustrations in a different way, not just totally ditching NJ.

It was a stupid thing for him to say. Really that simple. If he wants to stay, the NHL should let him stay! Then you'll see that NJ, and all other hockey fans will say the same Frenchie.

He could've just simply said "I don't like what the lockout brought to the NHL, I had a fantastic time here in the KHL, which is a great league, but I have a contract in the NHL that I must honor.

Get my drift? He could've said something a lot less stupid
- FLYERSROCK!

well to be fair, we are reading a quote. we don't really know the exact context nor did we hear his tone. He may just feel bad about leaving the fans there

i really don't know how to feel about this whole situation, i think my biggest fear is him being forced to play here and just phoning it in out of frustration...i just wish he didnt mention how hard it is to break a contract, then i would feel a little less slighted by his comments and put it off as making the KHL fans feel important
- Xnightwish

I 100% agree. I saw the first part of it and was liek ok, its being blown out of proportion. It's like telling a girl you just spent the night with "Of course I want to stay, your amazing, but I have to go" But the last part... that changes it altogether.

i really don't know how to feel about this whole situation, i think my biggest fear is him being forced to play here and just phoning it in out of frustration...i just wish he didnt mention how hard it is to break a contract, then i would feel a little less slighted by his comments and put it off as making the KHL fans feel important
- Xnightwish

I 100% agree. I saw the first part of it and was liek ok, its being blown out of proportion. It's like telling a girl you just spent the night with "Of course I want to stay, your amazing, but I have to go" But the last part... that changes it altogether.

well to be fair, we are reading a quote. we don't really know the exact context nor did we hear his tone. He may just feel bad about leaving the fans there
- nastyflyergirl

Its also translated from Russian. Who knows what he meant to say and was just mistranslated

I love kovy as a player but if he really is thinking about not only turning his back on the devils, but the NHL as a whole I say good riddance. Would rather have someone who wants to be here anyway
- Xnightwish

I totally agree. In reality if he does not show the Devil's do not have to pay him. Is he really worth that kind of money?? Buyout candidate??, Lotta bread to give away if so.
Personally these guys like Kovalchuk and Ovechkin make me sick, they have no loyalty to North America or their teams. It is just grab that money and bad mouth the hand that feeds you. If they were the star players on my favourite team I would be sick to my stomach having to try and love my team and see those selfish Russians using us fans.

Its also translated from Russian. Who knows what he meant to say and was just mistranslated
- bobert836

True, but he is still a Richard just like OV

True, but he is still a Richard just like OV
- flyerdude17

I think ov and him are miles apart

Stay over there Kovy. Nobody will really miss you, beeotch.
- dan_77

Devils fans will miss him. No matter what anyone says. They'll miss him.

Devils fans will miss him. No matter what anyone says. They'll miss him.
- poisondhearts37

Of course we would. How would you feel if you lost Doughty and Kopitar in one offseason? No team wants to lose their two best players

Of course we would. How would you feel if you lost Doughty and Kopitar in one offseason? No team wants to lose their two best players
- bobert836

Im not saying you wouldnt. The statement was more towards all the other people just saying stay in the KHL. and blah blah blah.

my hope for the lineup opening night. D pairings are made up by wanting lefties on the left and righties on the right.

Kovy-Zajac-butler/zubrus
elias-henrique-butler/zubrus
teddy-josefson-clarkson
carter-gionta-bernier

tallinder-larsson
greene-fayne
salvador-zidlicky
volchenkov-harrold

Truth be told, I'm tired of off-ice Kovy and his "look at me" antics. I love the guy on the ice. He plays his ass off, and genuinely seems like he is all about the team. However, it seems everytime he steps off the ice, he turns into a high maintenance kunt, that has to stir the pot.

Granted, I would be pissed too, if some organization reneg'd on a deal that I signed, but he isn't being singled out in this situation and should have come home with everyone else.

Whether he is here on opening night or not, he has already retarnished his reputation and all of the positive steps he has taken in NJ, are quickly becoming distant memories.

I totally agree. In reality if he does not show the Devil's do not have to pay him. Is he really worth that kind of money?? Buyout candidate??, Lotta bread to give away if so.
Personally these guys like Kovalchuk and Ovechkin make me sick, they have no loyalty to North America or their teams. It is just grab that money and bad mouth the hand that feeds you. If they were the star players on my favourite team I would be sick to my stomach having to try and love my team and see those selfish Russians using us fans.
- flyerdude17

I dont feel these guys need to have a loyalty to North America. There should be some loyalty with theyre teams. But these guys feel they have been miss treated by the League and its Owners. No matter what you feel about these guys and theyre contracts, overpaid or not. It has to be pretty enticing to play at home for a good buck to. This isnt coming out with other players because North America is theyre home anyways. If they female dog and moan than it looks even worse on them. If Weber, Suter and Parise were female doging and yapping about leaving for the KHL they would look much worse and be called much worse.

Ok i'm starting to grow tired of all this Kovy talk, he's gonna do what he's gonna do. I for one would like to see a few blog posts about players on the team who don't have question marks surrounding them. Let's start with Elias!