The fallout from this, per Tom Gulitti:

Devils will be charged $250,000 vs. cap for each season through 2024-25 as the cap recapture penalty.

Devils do not have to pay Kovalchk if he's retired. Can void his contract once he officially retires.

Of course, Devils still have to give up first-round pick in 2014 for being found guilty of cap circumvention.

Kovy walked away from $77M.

Well I gotta think Clarkson would not be a leaf if Kovelchuk did this before Free agency. Talk about adding insult to injury with announcing it at the worst possible time when all the free agents are already gone. Well the decent ones anyways.
- Sheppy99

Clarkson kinda out priced himself anyway. There really is nothing that could have replaced this whether he announced it before or after free agency. If he announced it before the draft it would be interesting to see if we still traded the pick.

And for those of you mentioning him ever coming back.. no. Not acceptable. He can keep his ass in Siberia. He should never be allowed to play in the NHL again. I'm sorry.. you make $15 million a season, fly your family here and build a house. POS.
- Panthers88

Not rubbing it in ....but if only Lou forfeited the Matteau pick instead this would be potentially really good for the Devils. A free buyout and if your bad you can get a great pick to rebuild with... I don't know why he didn't give that pick up. Sucks though but why leave all that money on the table if your Kovi? Something doesn't smell right....Does he leave for a year and come back just to get out of NJ?? Or is the money THAT good in Russia?

I'm shocked...

Still have a solid foundation, with Schneider, Larsson, Henrique, Loktionov and Matteau
- PatC80

Plus veterans for days. Elias,Zubrus, Zajac, Clowe, Ryder

Kovy walked away from $77M.
- Pat MaGroin

Now they may have to rush Boucher. Which will ruin him.

You know what.. for 10 seconds the Panthers fan in me was all HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! But after that passed, this is a horrible move and I feel bad for the Devils. I'm glad this jerk never raised a Cup.

Hope you guys can rebound from this.. though I don't see how you will.

I would love to see the Devils go after Evander Kane

You honestly think thats where he would want to go if he had a choice? that team is financially messed beyond belief...all this talk about coyotes being in turmoil financially, they should take a look at how messed up NJD is.
- annoyance_101

Yeah, NJD is so messed up that they planned to spend to the cap this season. The NY Post is just spewing BS as it always does.

Not rubbing it in ....but if only Lou forfeited the Matteau pick instead this would be potentially really good for the Devils. A free buyout and if your bad you can get a great pick to rebuild with... I don't know why he didn't give that pick up. Sucks though but why leave all that money on the table if your Kovi? Something doesn't smell right....Does he leave for a year and come back just to get out of NJ?? Or is the money THAT good in Russia?
- mrhattrick27

People are saying upwards of 15 million non-taxed.

And he's the captain of SKA St.Petersburg which is basically the equivalent to an original 6 team here

Not rubbing it in ....but if only Lou forfeited the Matteau pick instead this would be potentially really good for the Devils. A free buyout and if your bad you can get a great pick to rebuild with... I don't know why he didn't give that pick up. Sucks though but why leave all that money on the table if your Kovi? Something doesn't smell right....Does he leave for a year and come back just to get out of NJ?? Or is the money THAT good in Russia?
- mrhattrick27

It really only delays our rebuild one year. Its not that big of a disaster.

I don't understand why they'll be charged 250, 000 against the cap? it's not their fault he bailed.

This is terrible. So much for the playoffs. Can we get our 1st round pick back? What about the (frank)in cap recapture penalties? This could be a complete nightmare.
- rmdevil313

I hate the devils but holy poop man, I feel bad for them.
Kovy was good for 30+ goals a season and for a Devils team that is deprived of goals that's bad.
Not to mention they give up a 1st rounder this coming year, where most likely it won't be a season to remember for the devils

Wow.

Clarkson kinda out priced himself anyway. There really is nothing that could have replaced this whether he announced it before or after free agency. If he announced it before the draft it would be interesting to see if we still traded the pick.
- rmdevil313

Start liquidating and begin the rebuild

Sh itty deal for the Devils and their fans...

BUT

If he was going to stick around and sulk until 2025 just to collect a pay cheque the organization will be better off without him. Doesn't fix things, but you don't want that in the dressing room.

This is terrible. So much for the playoffs. Can we get our 1st round pick back? What about the (frank)in cap recapture penalties? This could be a complete nightmare.
- rmdevil313

250 k till 2025

I don't understand why they'll be charged 250, 000 against the cap? it's not their fault he bailed.
- steve362

They only get charged 250 grand against the cap for his contract? That's actually not bad

I would love to see the Devils go after Evander Kane
- PatVee21

We can't afford the cost it would take. Our only option is a rebuild basically. Or pray that Schneider is the second coming of Jesus.

Only one explanation possible.

The Devils are being transfer to Québec City.

Should have known by his cap hit... 666

Come on now, you are better than this
- kasperrko

That's up for debate.

Marty will play as starter out of respect and suck so much that they will get a top 3 pick and forfeit it and retire. Then schneider will play lights out the year mcdavid is supposed to be drafted and carry the devils to finish just outside the playoffs with a crappy pick. Then schneider will walk as a ufa.

You know what.. for 10 seconds the Panthers fan in me was all HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! But after that passed, this is a horrible move and I feel bad for the Devils. I'm glad this jerk never raised a Cup.

Hope you guys can rebound from this.. though I don't see how you will.
- Panthers88

I agree...I'm almost glad in a way that the kings beat us, but we have to look at the bright side....that contract was HORRIBLE and very not njd like...this year will probably suck though....god we were so set for an awesome year...

didn't the KHL agree to honor NHL contracts and refuse to let players under NHL contracts play? That's how the Isles got Visnovsky back, so I would assume it means Kovy is retiring from hockey. Assuming he made 15 mil (or part of that) during the lockout, and what, 23 mil from the Devils, he must figure he doesn't need to earn anymore money and is going to sit back and live the good life.

Sounds like the end of front loaded contracts to Russians.