Nice that he waited until most of the free agents have been signed to let the Devils know he was leaving.
- maaddmike

This.

Richard

Well at least we have Zidlicky...

M.M..Morrow? Jagr? Grabovski? Dear Lord.

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

Holy Crap.

Devastating news for the Devils.

I can't believe this.

F*k him. pull this BS. Make a big stink to get a long term contract. Got it with a truck load of money. For what? He really screwed the devils. If I were Lou I would sue his as* for the mess that he is causing. this is going to be a cap hit for the next 10 years for nothing. really breaks my heart to see this. I hope he gets injured and it ruins his career over in Russia. All I have is hate now. Lou can say all he wants. He is pissed.

Well at least we have Zidlicky...
- MannySilvers

If some overpaid a$$hole wants to leave the greatest sports league in the world, then good riddance. He can go enjoy his 45 year old team plane and third rate health care. Hope he doesn't get injured on the ice.. because if he does some bob-sled team will have to come tug his a$$ off. Good riddance.

On a side note, the Devils deserve the penalty. This was an insane contract and unfortunately it came back to bite them. Losing a top player sucks.. and now it's bad enough that they will have to lose a first round pick next year. An agreement needs to be made between the NHL and KHL for these types of situations. In my opinion, this voids a contract and Ilya should be held responsible for monies he received. Throw the legal book at him.

The Devils are going to hit that secondary free agent market kind of hard -- Jagr, Brunner, Morrow, Penner, et.
- Pete V

They were going to anyway. This is absolutely hilarious!

Trade Marty to a Canadian team for a season long supply of brew. Lots of drinking should help the team out a bit. This really bites for the Devils and their fans. What the hell is so great about Russia anyway!

The Devils will have to forfeit a possible first overall pick! That sucks!

Ouch guys.... Ouch

Ilya Kovalchuk just (frank)ed over the entire NJ Devils organization
you guys will finish bottom 5 for sure barring any moves, and you have to forfeit this pick
wow.

If some overpaid a$$hole wants to leave the greatest sports league in the world, then good riddance. He can go enjoy his 45 year old team plane and third rate health care. Hope he doesn't get injured on the ice.. because if he does some bob-sled team will have to come tug his a$$ off. Good riddance.

On a side note, the Devils deserve the penalty. This was an insane contract and unfortunately it came back to bite them. Losing a top player sucks.. and now it's bad enough that they will have to lose a first round pick next year. An agreement needs to be made between the NHL and KHL for these types of situations. In my opinion, this voids a contract and Ilya should be held responsible for monies he received. Throw the legal book at him.
- Panthers88

agreed

If some overpaid a$$hole wants to leave the greatest sports league in the world, then good riddance. He can go enjoy his 45 year old team plane and third rate health care. Hope he doesn't get injured on the ice.. because if he does some bob-sled team will have to come tug his a$$ off. Good riddance.

On a side note, the Devils deserve the penalty. This was an insane contract and unfortunately it came back to bite them. Losing a top player sucks.. and now it's bad enough that they will have to lose a first round pick next year. An agreement needs to be made between the NHL and KHL for these types of situations. In my opinion, this voids a contract and Ilya should be held responsible for monies he received. Throw the legal book at him.
- Panthers88

I really don't think there is anything the NHL or Devils can do based on the language of the CBA.

In total shock. Speachless. What the FÜCK

Ilya Kovalchuk just (frank)ed over the entire NJ Devils organization
you guys will finish bottom 5 for sure barring any moves, and you have to forfeit this pick
wow.
- FLYERSROCK!

Oh poop, totally forgot about that too, wow!

M.M..Morrow? Jagr? Grabovski? Dear Lord.
- MartysBetter88

No to them all...We need to find an elite player to replace him. We literally have no elite players anymore. We had at least 2 a bit over a year ago!

Trade Marty to a Canadian team for a season long supply of brew. Lots of drinking should help the team out a bit. This really bites for the Devils and their fans. What the hell is so great about Russia anyway!
- iTOLDu

no taxes

They were going to anyway. This is absolutely hilarious!
- MidnightMarauder

MM, I thought you were one of the good ones.

I wouldn't wish this on any team.

Holy Crap.

Devastating news for the Devils.

I can't believe this.
- Scabeh

2nded..

Schneider is like. please trade me the fuq out of here

On a side note.. with Koistitsyn, Burmistrov, and now Kovalchuk jumping ship, this could severely affect players taken in the draft and signed as free agents. Teams aren't going to want to take them simply because they're Russian. This could be a disaster.

They were going to anyway. This is absolutely hilarious!
- MidnightMarauder

Come on now, you are better than this