THIS IS HUGE























if true

please not Toronto.

he wants to sign before the deadline to be eligible for the playoffs....... so you have the leafs

Options for returning:

1. All thirty teams would grant permission to return to the NHL. He would be a free agent.

2. Kovalchuk can sit out a year and not play hockey anywhere. After then, only the Devils need to grant his permission to return to the NHL. He would be a free agent.

3. Kovalchuk would wait until he's 35. At that point, he's free to come back without any permission. That would be the 2018-19 season, or two years after the speculated season he's considering leaving the KHL.

Exception:

Devils can transfer Kovy from the Voluntarily Retired List back to their Reserve List at any point now that 1 year has passed since he filed his voluntary retirement papers, simply by signing him to an NHL contract.

http://www.allaboutthejer...-new-jersey-should-say-no


Seems to me if there is any truth to it and the article is correct, only the Devils can sign him right now.

please not Toronto.
- PeterM

I don't think you should panic yet.

He can stay in the KHL. He 'retired' from the nhl after the devils took all kinds of flack for signing him to that contract. Doesn't he have to have the other owners approve his re-entry to the nhl? what a joke.

1. All thirty teams would grant permission to return to the NHL. He would be a free agent.

2. Kovalchuk can sit out a year and not play hockey anywhere. After then, only the Devils need to grant his permission to return to the NHL. He would be a free agent.

3. Kovalchuk would wait until he's 35. At that point, he's free to come back without any permission. That would be the 2018-19 season, or two years after the speculated season he's considering leaving the KHL.

Exception:

Devils can transfer Kovy from the Voluntarily Retired List back to their Reserve List at any point now that 1 year has passed since he filed his voluntary retirement papers, simply by signing him to an NHL contract.

http://www.allaboutthejer...-new-jersey-should-say-no


Seems to me if there is any truth to it and the article is correct, only the Devils can sign him right now.
- Tumbleweed

This is not what the Zubov article says.

he has to not play any professional hockey for a year before he could come back to the NHL without going through the approval of every team.

Seems like Zubov thinks he's dogging it. Article also includes the exact reasons he will not be in NJ or Toronto any time soon.

http://www.si.com/nhl/201...sia-ska-st-petersburg-nhl
- smellmyfinger

Yeah this one is bad, even for this site

hahaha

Jesus, Ek.
- Niatnouf

Not so far fetched,Russian value economy tanking

don't think he could come back uless its with the devils or if they trade his rights

Options for returning:

1. All thirty teams would grant permission to return to the NHL. He would be a free agent.

2. Kovalchuk can sit out a year and not play hockey anywhere. After then, only the Devils need to grant his permission to return to the NHL. He would be a free agent.

3. Kovalchuk would wait until he's 35. At that point, he's free to come back without any permission. That would be the 2018-19 season, or two years after the speculated season he's considering leaving the KHL.

Exception:

Devils can transfer Kovy from the Voluntarily Retired List back to their Reserve List at any point now that 1 year has passed since he filed his voluntary retirement papers, simply by signing him to an NHL contract.

http://www.allaboutthejer...-new-jersey-should-say-no


Seems to me if there is any truth to it and the article is correct, only the Devils can sign him right now.
- Tumbleweed

Thought I read somewhere that if the Devils activate him from retirement, the contract he signed goes back into place. If that is true there is zero chance he returns to the Devils until he is 35 and that would be as a free agent.

"Eligible for the playoffs" and "Sign with the Leafs" is an oxymoron.

Moron should have never left the NHL if he's wanting to come back already.

Not so far fetched,Russian value economy tanking
- Landsbergfan

Yeah minus all the rules about him not being allowed back and stuff.

the NHL let LA weasel out of the richards contract im sure they can figure out a way to explain why kovalchuk is still able to come back. rules and agreements only matter if the NHL wants them to.. if kovalchuk can make the league $ the NHL will be waiting at the airport with open arms

I guarantee if he's looking to join the Leafs, at the very least, half the teams in the league would veto it.

EVEN IF he could: resign from his current team, have his contract terminated, find living and travel arrangements in a new city, move his family, arrange for proper care of said family, get GM approval from all 30 NHL teams, sign a new contract, and begin practicing with said team... I doubt it happens by Monday. VERY LAZY reporting job.

I guarantee if he's looking to join the Leafs, at the very least, half the teams in the league would veto it.
- pker2theend

Same thing with NJ. The Devils had a pick and half of their fine returned from the circumvention nonsense. Bettman is not going to let Kovy just come back to NJ.

Sorry, there is zero substance to this rumour.

There are SO MANY hoops that need to be jumped through for Kovalchuk TO HAVE A CHANCE to return the NHL.

NJ is obviously mentioned because of the past, but Kovalchuk going to the Leafs? Why, because:

A. The Uncle Lou connection?
B. The Leafs have the cap space?
C. Leafs are made of money and could easily afford Kovalchuk's contract?

I can G-U-A-R-A-N-T-E-E that Ilya is not a part of Toronto's rebuilding plans.

Stay in Russia. Should not be allowed to play at all this season. Pretty much owes NJ alot. (frank) him

Yeah minus all the rules about him not being allowed back and stuff.
- Cptmjl

thank you

EVEN IF he could: resign from his current team, have his contract terminated, find living and travel arrangements in a new city, move his family, arrange for proper care of said family, get GM approval from all 30 NHL teams, sign a new contract, and begin practicing with said team... I doubt it happens by Monday. VERY LAZY reporting job.
- Panthers88

He still has a home in NJ. That being said, this "article" is utter nonsense.

EVEN IF he could: resign from his current team, have his contract terminated, find living and travel arrangements in a new city, move his family, arrange for proper care of said family, get GM approval from all 30 NHL teams, sign a new contract, and begin practicing with said team... I doubt it happens by Monday. VERY LAZY reporting job.
- Panthers88

reporting job?

He still has a home in NJ. That being said, this "article" is utter nonsense.
- smellmyfinger

Yeah I was more so mentioning that possibility of him joining Toronto.