I think this is what irks me most. "He basically came back as a reluctant player after the lockout was over."- Bob McKenzie

Now that it's all gone down he did look like his heart was still in russia this past season. Probably honestly better off just because of this. Don't want someone here who doesn't want to be here. Think everyone can agree on that. If he was retiring from hockey be a lot easier to take, and if you could actually believe him about going back there for strictly family reasons too. But lets be real its all about the $$ it will be proven when he signs a deal paying him what he would of made here in half the time...He got paid more in half a year in russia then he did in any season in the NHL and thats why he wants to go back.
- NickA

Actually most pissed about LOSING JOHNNY ODUYA FOR (frank)ING NOTHING!!!! (frank) I LOVED THAT GUY NOW HE WAS TRADED FOR NOTHING JUST REALIZED THIS (frank) YOU KOVY EAFD

Let's get this to 800 comments
- MannySilvers

Boom

To be fair, I like Oduya too, but I'd argue losing him for 3 years of Kovy isn't too bad...

But you know, there are other issues.

Our PP is going to be poop now. We have nobody with a good one timer like Kovy or who can play the point like him.

Our PP is going to be poop now. We have nobody with a good one timer like Kovy or who can play the point like him.
- Rseen

Yeah no big shot once again and the PP ran entirely around him. Tell ya what i wont miss his long shifts or worthless double shifts though where he essentially did nothing but skate around. Pete will be forced to use the whole team not focus a game plan entirely around one player. Need to bring in some sort of scoring winger though...

I think this is what irks me most. "He basically came back as a reluctant player after the lockout was over."- Bob McKenzie

Now that it's all gone down he did look like his heart was still in russia this past season. Probably honestly better off just because of this. Don't want someone here who doesn't want to be here. Think everyone can agree on that. If he was retiring from hockey be a lot easier to take, and if you could actually believe him about going back there for strictly family reasons too. But lets be real its all about the $$ it will be proven when he signs a deal paying him what he would of made here in half the time...He got paid more in half a year in russia then he did in any season in the NHL and thats why he wants to go back.
- NickA

he will come crawling back in 4-5 years just like jagr. a guy like kovy will want to compete at the highest level again eventually and he will get sick of the bush league antics in the KHL.

To be fair, I like Oduya too, but I'd argue losing him for 3 years of Kovy isn't too bad...

But you know, there are other issues.
- MannySilvers

Oduya would probably be the best defensemen on the team...

Our PP is going to be poop now. We have nobody with a good one timer like Kovy or who can play the point like him.
- Rseen

would you be interested in PP QB extraordinaire: BRAD RICHARDSSSSSS?

all it'll cost ya is henrique.

he will come crawling back in 4-5 years just like jagr. a guy like kovy will want to compete at the highest level again eventually and he will get sick of the bush league antics in the KHL.
- rangerdanger94

You would think the 29 other teams not getting him though would be against it and block him. Doesn't he have to get approval now if he wants to come back since he abandoned his contract?

You would think the 29 other teams not getting him though would be against it and block him. Doesn't he have to get approval now if he wants to come back since he abandoned his contract?
- NickA

i think for a few years but after X amount of years he doesn't need approval anymore.

would you be interested in PP QB extraordinaire: BRAD RICHARDSSSSSS?

all it'll cost ya is henrique.
- rangerdanger94

Wouldn't trade Tedenby or 7th rd for Richards... Cant believe he wasn't bought out. Just not having him i would think would help the rangers. But i have a strong feeling hes bought out end of season for certain even if he plays good. Then the rangers will sign the Sedin twins and that will help keep Lundqvist in NY for life. Did AV have a good relationship with them though? Never heard he didn't.

Wouldn't trade Tedenby or 7th rd for Richards... Cant believe he wasn't bought out. Just not having him i would think would help the rangers. But i have a strong feeling hes bought out end of season for certain even if he plays good. Then the rangers will sign the Sedin twins and that will help keep Lundqvist in NY for life. Did AV have a good relationship with them though? Never heard he didn't.
- NickA

i think the reasoning behind keeping him is that he'll rebound under a more offensive system and him at $6.66 mil cap hit is better than anyone else we would have added in the weak UFA class this year. he's a goner regardless next year even if he's the conn smythe winner haha.

i really hope they don't get the twins. AV never won anything with them in their prime with an arguably more talented team in vancouver so i want nothing to do with them when they're on the decline. give me phil kessel or pominville or hell even setoguchi.

i think the reasoning behind keeping him is that he'll rebound under a more offensive system and him at $6.66 mil cap hit is better than anyone else we would have added in the weak UFA class this year. he's a goner regardless next year even if he's the conn smythe winner haha.

i really hope they don't get the twins. AV never won anything with them in their prime with an arguably more talented team in vancouver so i want nothing to do with them when they're on the decline. give me phil kessel or pominville or hell even setoguchi.
- rangerdanger94

True twins with nash though would be impossible to stop pretty much. Never had a winger with them of that quality. don't be shocked if it happens mainly cause Hank is probably friends with them from the national team and he has a twin too so he has that in common. Probably BFF's or arch enemies

True twins with nash though would be impossible to stop pretty much. Never had a winger with them of that quality. don't be shocked if it happens mainly cause Hank is probably friends with them from the national team and he has a twin too so he has that in common. Probably BFF's or arch enemies
- NickA

yea but i feel like nash would play on a separate line to balance the lineup. that would be one scary PP though.

Unless he negotiates without his agent, Russia can't make the agent fees disappear.
- rmdevil313

whoopie doo, then he makes 30% more instead of 50% more there than he would here...its still a win win situation for him...

he will come crawling back in 4-5 years just like jagr. a guy like kovy will want to compete at the highest level again eventually and he will get sick of the bush league antics in the KHL.
- rangerdanger94

Considering all 30 owners would have to let him come back I highly doubt it, 1 no and he cant be in the nhl

Positives -

1. Freeing up the pending 56M over the next 5 years in real dollars will appeal to would be investors. For all of the talk of the investors running from a circus, the bottom line is less debt = better investment.
2. Adam Larsson can now get a shot on the PP. Kovy playing the full 2 minutes kept him on the bench, and gave up ALOT of shorties.
3. Signing Zid makes more sense now. Without him or Kovy, the team would have had nobody to run the PP.

Negatives -
1. Who the EFF is going to score goals????
2. This circus kind of makes us a huge target as fans. And we all know we can be less than courteous to one another when pointing and laughing.

I'm still angry, but every time I say this is the end, the Devils prove me wrong. Although he might be the best offensive player ever to play in NJ, the team has lost far more important pieces in the past and remained competitive.


In summary, short term BOOOOO. Long term YAAAAY.

Anyone been reading all this stuff saying Kovy and SKA agreed to a long term deal back in January? This does not sit well.

Considering all 30 owners would have to let him come back I highly doubt it, 1 no and he cant be in the nhl
- dmarsden2988

Only for x amount of years. Then he can come back without consent.

I like how people make it seem like it's dishonorable to make more money. Uh, I'd like to make more money if somebody would give it to me...

I like how people make it seem like it's dishonorable to make more money. Uh, I'd like to make more money if somebody would give it to me...
- MrToast

if you signed a contract it is
how would you like it if you had a contract from your boss and they just say nope not paying it sorry

I like how people make it seem like it's dishonorable to make more money. Uh, I'd like to make more money if somebody would give it to me...
- MrToast

Uh its about integrity, he just royally screwed the Devils out of a 1st round pick in a year they needed it the most...

Uh its about integrity, he just royally screwed the Devils out of a 1st round pick in a year they needed it the most...
- annoyance_101

No he didn't, devils did that to themselves.

No he didn't, devils did that to themselves.
- Feeling Glucky?

I'd say the devils did deserve what they get...but at the same time kovalsuck knew what he was doing when he signed that...the devils probably did not...at the time the canucks signed luongo to that over the hill contract...they probably didnt think of changing their mind...organizations always (frank) up, but the way kovalsuck handled this, he knew what he would do years ago...its pathetic

I'd say the devils did deserve what they get...but at the same time kovalsuck knew what he was doing when he signed that...the devils probably did not...at the time the canucks signed luongo to that over the hill contract...they probably didnt think of changing their mind...organizations always (frank) up, but the way kovalsuck handled this, he knew what he would do years ago...its pathetic
- annoyance_101

I think after playing this last season back in Russia, he realized he wanted to move back there.