Wasn't it the players who cried and moaned for months about "honoring contracts?"

Parise leaving had nothing to do with the cap (do some research) and everything to do with Parise wanting to play in Minnesota with Ryan Suter. He is on record (again, research) admitting he and Suter discussed it.

To suggest you "wouldn't be surprised" New Jersey initiated Kovalchuk's retirement is near libelous.

Kovalchuk retired because he wanted to. The Devils lost their best player as a result. Period.
- Koho88

Thanks for a response based on common sense Koho!

You guys are ridiculous. He's a (frank)ing person, and is allowed to live his life however he (frank)ing wants too, without some baseless criticism from "fans" of a (frank)ing sport who only wish they had even an ounce of talent he does. Life is short, live it happily, and don't let complete (frank)ing strangers dictate it.
- Blackstrom2

I see your a caps fan. So you wouldnt be angry and pissed off if Ovie left? If you say no your full of sh*t

To think that Kovalchuk is just a person who is free to do whatever he wants is purely comical. Yes, of course he can do whats good for him, whats good for his family. But in turn, then we are free to criticize him for the Damages his choice creates. He's not a clerk in retail store. The Devils aren't Target, where they can hire the next applicant in line and all is fine. Kovalchuk was signed to a contract, and very handsome contract which was put into place as a part of a moving plan. Being the centerpiece of that plan, the organization invested time, money and paid penalties to make that happen. The Devils gave up assets that aren't returned if he chooses to not be a part of that plan anymore. That is the reason why everyone is saying its a selfish choice in a team sport. Kovalchuk has ALWAYS been this type of person. He is always "unhappy" and blaming of the situation around him. Never fully a team player, thinks the world should revolve around him being idealistically happy all the time. Instead of working through it, he complains, and now, he does the ultimate, he quits. This isn't about money, this isn't about family, this is about HIM. He doesn't weigh his responsibility higher than his happiness. THAT is what is wrong.

BTW - Did everyone forget that when Kovy was interviewed in Russia during the lockout, the vocal comments he made about owners? I believe it was something about the owners should HONOR their contracts? In the end, its all BS. Players like Kovy will say and do anything to benefit their own selfish needs. Where as this is fine in the normal blue collar world because we are all clawing and struggling to make ends meet and make a better life for our families, its NOT acceptible for a professional athlete in a team concept. Especially one that the league has made the one of the highest paid players in NHL history.

I think only idiots do not realize how devastating this is for the Devils.

And the possibility to lose what could be a top 5 overall pick next year doesn't make it better.
- Scabeh

Exactly! It's ludicrous that people think this was all "planned"....like GTFO!
idiots!

I think only idiots do not realize how devastating this is for the Devils.

And the possibility to lose what could be a top 5 overall pick next year doesn't make it better.
- Scabeh

Maybe less so for the Devils' bankers

this screws the devils short term because he didn't do this a month ago. but isn't the recapture hit only 250,000 a year until 2025? that's almost nothing. but long term, that anchor of a contract is unloaded and the devils won't be stuck paying an old player that nobody would touch. it sucks losing the pick next season and sets the devils back maybe two years, but it could prove to be helpful down the line.

this screws the devils short term because he didn't do this a month ago. but isn't the recapture hit only 250,000 a year until 2025? that's almost nothing. but long term, that anchor of a contract is unloaded and the devils won't be stuck paying an old player that nobody would touch. it sucks losing the pick next season and sets the devils back maybe two years, but it could prove to be helpful down the line.
- Why So Serious

Totally. Couldn't agree with you more!

Kovy's timing on his retirement means the Devils lost:

-Ability to target big names on July 5th to try and replace Kovy.
-Oduya, Bergfors, Cormier, 1st and 2nd in the trade.
-1st (2012) and 3rd (2011) for the contract

This to me is a huge crippling blow and a spit to the face of the organization. Why sign a 15 year deal if you have had talks of moving back to Russia with your wife before sigining? The Devils paid a lot to have a player of his caliber locked up for those many years.

I think the Devils are trying to remain classy through this whole ordeal, but they know full well this was devastating to the organization.

Great blog Adam.

I agree 100% with setting the precedent. The Devils should toll the contract. You don't want to honor the contract you signed? OK. You want to go home? OK. You want to retire from the NHL? NOPE. You retire from hockey. Toll it and make it impossible to play in the KHL or Olympics for the country you love so dearly. The team has nothing to lose. While tolling the contract, he is suspended so they don't have to pay him, and the cap hit goes away anyway. I don't see why they would allow him to get off so easy after what he has done to this franchise, when there is no benefit to doing so for the Devils.

By agreeing to terminate and essentially making him a free agent, the precedent set is VERY dangerous. Money is no object to the Russian Billionaires that own the larger teams in the KHL. Alot of teams' fans are pointing and laughing, but will it be this funny when Malkin or Ovechkin get those calls offering 30-35M per season, virtually tax free, to retire and come home?

Good on him? For what? Screwing over his teamates and organization and every Russian that wants to make the jump from Russia to the NHL...
He has every right to leave the NHL and play in the KHL but the way he did it was a real FU to the Devils organization and the NHL
- Jaciems

EXACTLY...
He sounds like a home sick little girl, it makes me sick...
He crippled the Devils, like why leave now? Why didn't he do this a month or two ago when it would have gave the Devils more $$ available for FA's? He also leaves the year the Devils have to forefeit their first pick, and as their best player he really screws them from a potential top5 pick.

I feel that if he wanted to leave then let him leave. The Devils could have even tolled his contract and effectively ended his playing career at every level if he refused to play. But that doesn't help anyone. Read all about it in my blog, thetoedrag.wordpress.com. And add me on twitter @thetoedrag. Thanks.

So its Kovalchuks fault that you guys lost players and picks when you traded for him.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he agreed to a 17 year contract given by the organization.

Its Kovalchuks falut that the NHL fined the Devils for trying to evade the cap restrictions.

Its Kovalchuks Fault that your star players are leaving the organisation.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he wants to play in his home country.

this screws the devils short term because he didn't do this a month ago. but isn't the recapture hit only 250,000 a year until 2025? that's almost nothing. but long term, that anchor of a contract is unloaded and the devils won't be stuck paying an old player that nobody would touch. it sucks losing the pick next season and sets the devils back maybe two years, but it could prove to be helpful down the line.
- Why So Serious

i firmly believe the devils didn't do this before the draft and free agency because the league would have female doged about circumventing the cap again, since the devils are the only team that circumvents the cap. i'm sure the devils will look to get there draft pick back, but they have a better chance catching lightning in a bottle than getting the pick back.

So its Kovalchuks fault that you guys lost players and picks when you traded for him.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he agreed to a 17 year contract given by the organization.

Its Kovalchuks falut that the NHL fined the Devils for trying to evade the cap restrictions.

Its Kovalchuks Fault that your star players are leaving the organisation.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he wants to play in his home country.


- kosovas

for the two bolded, yes it is his fault, no questions asked.
He signed a contract and was obligated to honor it. He doesn't have the right to cut and run.
The others: It's not "his fault" we gave up pieces, draft picks, and arguably Parise, but they were all sacrificed for the guarantee of a commitment of a star player/top scorer for the next decade. By breaking his commitment for his own selfish reason, the Devils were forced to give all that up for essentially nothing

So its Kovalchuks fault that you guys lost players and picks when you traded for him.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he agreed to a 17 year contract given by the organization.

Its Kovalchuks falut that the NHL fined the Devils for trying to evade the cap restrictions.

Its Kovalchuks Fault that your star players are leaving the organisation.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he wants to play in his home country.


- kosovas

Actually it is. Because the Kovalchuk deal made it hard for the franchise to keep guys like Parise and Clarkson. And Yes Kovalchuk should have honored his 100 million dollar contract with the devils, the reason why he retired was cause of escrow. He didn't do it for family, hid did it because SKA St. Petersburg will offer 10-15 million AAV, tax free.

on the escrow issue here is confimation.
https://twitter.com/TGfireandice

So its Kovalchuks fault that you guys lost players and picks when you traded for him.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he agreed to a 17 year contract given by the organization.

Its Kovalchuks falut that the NHL fined the Devils for trying to evade the cap restrictions.

Its Kovalchuks Fault that your star players are leaving the organisation.

Its Kovalchuks fault that he wants to play in his home country.


- kosovas

Nope none of those things are Kovy's fault. Its Kovy's fault that despite all these terrible things that happened to the Devs in the effort of making him their top player and one of the richest in the league, he is abandoning them. Yes, that is completely his fault. Does the words responsibility, honor, gratitude escape your vocabulary?

Mmmmmmm pistol whip

Actually, the worst part i believe, is that he should have announced his decision to Lamoriello prior to July 1st if he had any respect for the Devils organization.

At least they could have planned accordingly before all the best players were signed on July 5.

Oh, sorry, Scott Gomez is still free.
- masterkotz

Good point.

this screws the devils short term because he didn't do this a month ago. but isn't the recapture hit only 250,000 a year until 2025? that's almost nothing. but long term, that anchor of a contract is unloaded and the devils won't be stuck paying an old player that nobody would touch. it sucks losing the pick next season and sets the devils back maybe two years, but it could prove to be helpful down the line.
- Why So Serious

They likely could have held onto their captain last offseason without him. They committed to Kovalchuk over Parise, and he bailed on them. That's the most upsetting part from a Devils point of view.

They likely could have held onto their captain last offseason without him. They committed to Kovalchuk over Parise, and he bailed on them. That's the most upsetting part from a Devils point of view.
- jmatchett383

I don't think that's true at all, Parise was offered a contract and he chose to play in Minny. Devils had more than enough cap space to sign Parise last year, this year and beyond.

I would be mad about it for the first couple of minutes, and then..get this..I won't care anymore. What one does with their life is of none of my concern.

edit; Also, I voiced my displeasure in Ovi's contract when he signed it. I would not oppose the idea of trading him either, and I am rather vocal about it. if this was me last year, I would push to have him retire. (though it never occurred to me this was a legitimate option for players..) I'd be more mad at the fact we lost his value, and not really him, to be honest. Barking up the wrong tree if you are trying to get me, of all Caps fans, to bite on a swing at Ovi.
- Blackstrom2

You are full of poop

I don't think that's true at all, Parise was offered a contract and he chose to play in Minny. Devils had more than enough cap space to sign Parise last year, this year and beyond.
- LeftCoaster

Yeah, but you never know the factors involved in his decision. Kovalchuk's salary could have been a long term factor for Parise as well as the captaincy, the role on the team, etc... If Kovalchuk had made it public he was not staying with the Devils, Parise may have viewed the whole situation differently. He could have seen himself playing a larger role with the Devils, he could have expected the team to build complementary players around him with the extra cap space, etc...

I'm curious to learn which player of this year's UFA group is within Kovalchuk's talent stratosphere that the Devils apparently missed out on targeting.

I'm curious to learn which player of this year's UFA group is within Kovalchuk's talent stratosphere that the Devils apparently missed out on targeting.
- Koho88

There wasn't anyone that would qualify as replacing his dynamic offensive abilities, but maybe they would've gameplanned a little better. Rather than focusing on Clarkson's replacement (Clowe), they would've realized they had a bigger issue and focused on a trade or "different" FAs.