@EJHradek_NHL 4m
If Kovalchuk's contract is terminated - as it appears it will be - he will be free to sign and play in the KHL

So he's free to play where he likes. And is almost a lock for team Russia.
- tomburton99

wow. That's some crazy stuff, that makes it even worse for the Devils fans. If he was done with hockey then it would almost be easier to take, but playing in Russia to make more money when he's owed 77 mil in the NHL? Greedy fuqqer.

what a jerk, Kovalchuk insisted on a 100 million dollar contract when he became a UFA. He could have signed something shorter term if he wanted to leave his options open about going home someday.

Nobody should be defending the actions of this jack ass today.
- jimbro83

More MOney!!!!

McPhee is leaving desperate, awkward voicemail messages for Ovechkin right now.

wow. That's some crazy stuff, that makes it even worse for the Devils fans. If he was done with hockey then it would almost be easier to take, but playing in Russia to make more money when he's owed 77 mil in the NHL? Greedy fuqqer.
- Isles_since_6

You really don't think he would walk away from 77 mil right. He gonna be making bank in Russia

McPhee is leaving desperate, awkward voicemail messages for Ovechkin right now.
- Jeffmt

Rutherford and Semin?

Parise, Clarkson, Kovalchuk ...gone ...NJ must be a great place to play.
- broadstreet11

I blame the jersey shore




That would make me want to leave too

McPhee is leaving desperate, awkward voicemail messages for Ovechkin right now.
- Jeffmt

The great Russian Exodus of 2013.

why so sudden? it doesn't make sense

Well they just got a 12 year, 77 million dollar contract off their books. Does that help?
- t_leafs21

Yes? thats the reason this happened...did you even read everything I said?

The great Russian Exodus of 2013.
- Cheeseballin

This could be the start. Its one thing for a player like Radulov to leave but Kovy is a superstar in his own country, and add the fact that players like Kuznetzov are delaying their signing, I bet we start seeing fewer and fewer russians even wanting to play in the NHL.

wow. That's some crazy stuff, that makes it even worse for the Devils fans. If he was done with hockey then it would almost be easier to take, but playing in Russia to make more money when he's owed 77 mil in the NHL? Greedy fuqqer.
- Isles_since_6

If he left next year, the penalty would be over twice what it is now... and if he left the year after, it'd be over a mil per season.

Incredible!! so Sorry.... but...

We here in STL remember the Scott Stevens Saga. Killed STL for years.
things do have a way of working back around!!

If he left next year, the penalty would be over twice what it is now... and if he left the year after, it'd be over a mil per season.
- Feeling Glucky?

that Ilya........ what a great guy, always thinkin of others

We all know you'll trade your first for Bozak to further delay the rebuild.
- Feeling Glucky?

a leafs fan talking about trading 1sts? Thank you, the moment has passed that I can agree with anything you say

If he left next year, the penalty would be over twice what it is now... and if he left the year after, it'd be over a mil per season.
- Feeling Glucky?

Would have liked him to stay on for this year at least, so our first round pick wouldn't be a total embarrassment and we could somewhat have a plant to replace him next season i UFA.

This could be the start. Its one thing for a player like Radulov to leave but Kovy is a superstar in his own country, and add the fact that players like Kuznetzov are delaying their signing, I bet we start seeing fewer and fewer russians even wanting to play in the NHL.
- rmdevil313

I agree with great players like Kovy playing in the KHL more russians will leave or not want to come in the first place. Makes the KHL more attractive, plus they pay their players more money.

You really don't think he would walk away from 77 mil right. He gonna be making bank in Russia
- Cheeseballin

I didn't think the Devils would allow him to get out of that contract. The agreement between the NHL and KHL is that they honor each others contracts, which is why Visnovsky had to come back to the Isles last year. If they'd just suspended him and kept the contract then he shouldn't have been able to play there. The fact they're going to terminate it and let their best player, who cost them parise and a 1st round pick as a penalty for the contract, walk to Russia to make more money and leave a gaping hole in their roster is unbelievable.

a leafs fan talking about trading 1sts? Thank you, the moment has passed that I can agree with anything you say
- annoyance_101

I'm assuming you're referring to the kessel trade where we lost out on a more talented version of sean avery....... We're ok with that actually now.

Well, lets see...

Should you guys get your pick back? No. Bettman should further go out and say that if Kovalchuk were to come back to the NHL, that either A. he cannot sign with the Devils, or B. the Devils must honor the contract that they just tried to weasel their way out of and the 11 million in cash they "circumvented" by creating a "retirement party" will be penalized from the franchise.

However, a 250k penalty til 2025 isnt so bad considering that the franchise is financially strapped.

I didn't think the Devils would allow him to get out of that contract. The agreement between the NHL and KHL is that they honor each others contracts, which is why Visnovsky had to come back to the Isles last year. If they'd just suspended him and kept the contract then he shouldn't have been able to play there. The fact they're going to terminate it and let their best player, who cost them parise and a 1st round pick as a penalty for the contract, walk to Russia to make more money and leave a gaping hole in their roster is unbelievable.
- Isles_since_6

that's why he's retiring

I didn't think the Devils would allow him to get out of that contract. The agreement between the NHL and KHL is that they honor each others contracts, which is why Visnovsky had to come back to the Isles last year. If they'd just suspended him and kept the contract then he shouldn't have been able to play there. The fact they're going to terminate it and let their best player, who cost them parise and a 1st round pick as a penalty for the contract, walk to Russia to make more money and leave a gaping hole in their roster is unbelievable.
- Isles_since_6

You can't prevent someone from retiring though. If they want to retire they can at any point.

I'm assuming you're referring to the kessel trade where we lost out on a more talented version of sean avery....... We're ok with that actually now.
- Sheppy99

completely overlooking Hamilton and Knight...ho hum...

I agree with great players like Kovy playing in the KHL more russians will leave or not want to come in the first place. Makes the KHL more attractive, plus they pay their players more money.
- Cheeseballin

It would make international hockey a lot more interesting, like back in the USSR days when North America didn't see much of the Russians until big tournaments.

I didn't think the Devils would allow him to get out of that contract. The agreement between the NHL and KHL is that they honor each others contracts, which is why Visnovsky had to come back to the Isles last year. If they'd just suspended him and kept the contract then he shouldn't have been able to play there. The fact they're going to terminate it and let their best player, who cost them parise and a 1st round pick as a penalty for the contract, walk to Russia to make more money and leave a gaping hole in their roster is unbelievable.
- Isles_since_6

Ya lets just keep a 6.66m cap hit for a guy not to play.

I agree with great players like Kovy playing in the KHL more russians will leave or not want to come in the first place. Makes the KHL more attractive, plus they pay their players more money.
- Cheeseballin

A handful of their top teams pay their few good players good money. I was reading an article recently about the KHL, and if I remember correctly, there are a couple teams that have a total payroll of 2 million or something like that.