No, do us all a favor and stay in Russia ya commie bastage!

I'm not sure how long you have been following the Devils, but Lou is what people tend to refer to as "old school" and not one who deals with this type of behavior. When guys hold out Lou wait with them (a la Niedermayer and Arnott), when they are looking for the highest bid he lets them walk (Holik, Gomez, Martin, etc). Lou isn't one who stands for the type of behavior Kovy demonstrated. Everyone can say what they want about him wanting to go home, etc., but the bottom line is the guy signed a contract and didn't honor it.

Also I think most Devils fans would agree that the Kovy contract was a Vanderbeek signing, not a Lou signing. So there's that too...
- jersey1414

Yea, if you don't think the Devils wanted this "retirement" you're delusional. As you say, Lou gets what he wants and does what he wants. If he didn't want this, it wouldn't have happened.

hell be washed up by the time he comes back if he can still play an elite kind of level then nah i wouldnt really care Id take him back but hell probably be washed up...

Yea, if you don't think the Devils wanted this "retirement" you're delusional. As you say, Lou gets what he wants and does what he wants. If he didn't want this, it wouldn't have happened.
- muffin_man

If the man who signs your paycheck tells you to do something you do it. Otherwise there is a pretty quick fix...

if he didn't "leave", there would be no sale...and , most likely, no Devils...in NJ anyway. He should come back...and be a Devil. He still has many good years of Hockey left!

hell be washed up by the time he comes back if he can still play an elite kind of level then nah i wouldnt really care Id take him back but hell probably be washed up...
- mandalerrr

Really? You seriously think he'll be washed-up or something along those lines? Personally, I think he'll still be able to play barring his health, of course. Look at Jagr - the man can still play and be effective, despite his loss in speed and he's 41. I'd take Kovy on my team in a heart-beat.

Yea, if you don't think the Devils wanted this "retirement" you're delusional. As you say, Lou gets what he wants and does what he wants. If he didn't want this, it wouldn't have happened.
- muffin_man

I doubt we wanted it but im sure once it was brought up to Lou he probably said yeah. He didn't sign Kovy JVB did. However to suggest Lou wanted our best player to leave is delusional. Did Lou want to stop it once it came out he wanted out? No. But why would you want to? He doesn't want to be here why keep him here? Having a malcontent player and star player at that is never a good thing.

I doubt we wanted it but im sure once it was brought up to Lou he probably said yeah. He didn't sign Kovy JVB did. However to suggest Lou wanted our best player to leave is delusional. Did Lou want to stop it once it came out he wanted out? No. But why would you want to? He doesn't want to be here why keep him here? Having a malcontent player and star player at that is never a good thing.
- NickA

If he played like 7 more years, weren't you stuck with like $40M in cap hit every year? No. no reaon to want him to leave for a year and maybe come back at all...

If he played like 7 more years, weren't you stuck with like $40M in cap hit every year? No. no reaon to want him to leave for a year and maybe come back at all...
- muffin_man

Yup Lou forced him to retire and leave the NHL. Kovy had no say at all Lou's mob connections threatened him and his family if they didn't leave.

The price NJ paid for signing Kovy and losing him is less damaging than his cap hit would he have remained. I remain of the opinion it should be considered cap circumvention if he ever returns. These type of games cannot be tolerated by any franchise no matter their financial situation nor should these games be tolerated by the NHL from any player.

Its funny that people are blaming Kovy for the Devils getting penalized. That was the organizations fault for trying to push the line when it comes to the cap. Secondly the contract he signed was still heavily circumventing the cap and none of you would complain if he retired when 2020-21 season hit and his cap hit was still almost 7 million but he only gets paid 1Million and is all washed up. The business side of the devils and possible Lou also jumped for joy when this happened. The guy was due like 56 Million over the next 5 years.

Never, let him rot in that bush league for the rest of his career...traitor.

And I don't care if he comes back to us and puts up stamkos like goal numbers....I'll never root for him again.

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk Hints About Potential NHL Return
- Todd.Cordell

On the cheap of course

shvingter breath...that all you got?? (frank) off troll??? they let you use your cell phone in school...or are you hiding in the closet so that they don't see you! If you have some input...bring it on!

shvingter breath...that all you got?? (frank) off troll??? they let you use your cell phone in school...or are you hiding in the closet so that they don't see you! If you have some input...bring it on!
- devs23jp

wow totally uncalled for. how rude. my feelings have been hurt by this personal attack.

All the conspiracy theories are hilarious.

The Devils didn't want him to leave. If they were worried about long term spending they wouldn't have given Zajac and Clowe long term deals. They're paying both of them 45 mil over the next 5 yrs. I think someones comment was Kovy was owed 56/5. That extra 11 million is a killer....

If Kovalchuk stayed Zajac would've left. Just like Gomez after Elias.

That being said, the only way he returns is if no one else has a say in the matter. I cant imagine how you could ask the players to accept his return to NJ after stabbing them in the back.

And pick a team in the East, I'm sure they wouldn't want him back in NJ either.

And why would the Devils permit him to go elsewhere? They'd probably prefer to get back at him a little bit....

That being said, when he's 36 and no one can do anything about....he'll still be able to handle the puck and shoot.

HENRIQUE SIGNS A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE NJD https://twitter.com/NHLDe...status/372027174066589696

HENRIQUE SIGNS A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE NJD https://twitter.com/NHLDe...status/372027174066589696


- chodusky69

sign and trade

No, the league controls his fate. Kovi can only comeback iif the BOG has a vote on it. All 30 governors have to yes, which will not happen.
- blacksheep1

Correct, and Uncle Lou would not vote!

Pretty sure the comments on his return here are incomplete. All 30 teams have to approve IF he tries to return within one year of playing pro hockey. After sitting for one year, only the Devils have to approve and hold his rights IF he tries to return before turning 35. Once he turns 35, and has sat out a full year of pro hockey, he is a UFA. Which is exactly what a 3 year contract suggests to me he is planning on doing.


My souce is NHL VP of Operations Bill Daly, via Larry Brooks:
http://www.nypost.com/p/s...in_P86dPPupcCgk0mWUHajWFK
- Antilles

Great, so he'll come back and we'll have to play against him!

The price NJ paid for signing Kovy and losing him is less damaging than his cap hit would he have remained. I remain of the opinion it should be considered cap circumvention if he ever returns. These type of games cannot be tolerated by any franchise no matter their financial situation nor should these games be tolerated by the NHL from any player.
- yaktalksback

Hope you're preaching this message to Sens fans. Murray admits circumvention. No penalty.

Hope you're preaching this message to Sens fans. Murray admits circumvention. No penalty.
- MartysBetter88

I am not aware of what you are refering too. Of course I said this applies to any team, any player.

If the Stanley Cup is a goal for Kovy, maybe he shouldn't have left?!?!

kovy can go suck eggs >=
- MrToast[

Well actually, that is how they make Ukranian Easter Eggs (Pysanka), which is likely part of his heritage (Ukranian) because of his surname.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pysanka