Adam Kirshenblatt: Kovalchuk Shenanigans

Good on him for doing what's important to him and his family. Giving up that kind of money is not an easy decision...one would think!

Here's a transfer agreement for it:

Rule $100M: If a Russian wants to play in 2nd tier hockey league, let him. Let the players who want to play in the best league in the world play.

Rule $100M(2): Ban said Russian from ever playing in the best league in the world again.

Rule $100M(3): Don't show Cup rings to Putin if you don't want it stolen.

Good on him for doing what's important to him and his family. Giving up that kind of money is not an easy decision...one would think!
- LeftCoaster

He will reportedly sign in the KHL tomorrow for somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20 million per season, taxed only at 13%. He's not "giving up" a red cent.

He will reportedly sign in the KHL tomorrow for somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20 million per season, taxed only at 13%. He's not "giving up" a red cent.
- bluepulasky

Kovy has every right to do what is best for himself on his family. The fact that he was already committed into a contract that he demanded very emphatically, leaves a bad taste in your mouth. As a Devils fan, its a very, very bitter taste.

He will reportedly sign in the KHL tomorrow for somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20 million per season, taxed only at 13%. He's not "giving up" a red cent.
- bluepulasky

Fair enough, if he does sign in the KHL good for him. Being at home is more important to him, if he can make the same amount of money and live at home why wouldn't he? I would!

Fair enough, if he does sign in the KHL good for him. Being at home is more important to him, if he can make the same amount of money and live at home why wouldn't he? I would!
- LeftCoaster

This is what the whole blog was about

Imagine Malkin, Ovi, Bobrovsky, Datsyuk All jumping ship

Adam Kirshenblatt: Kovalchuk Shenanigans
- MasWE

Woo?

This is what the whole blog was about

Imagine Malkin, Ovi, Bobrovsky, Datsyuk All jumping ship
- Danformo

Free will, if that's what's most important to them....then go.

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.

Woo?
- wilsonecho91

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

People, such as the author, will sensationalize this for the following months because there's nothing much to talk about.

People, such as the author, will sensationalize this for the following months because there's nothing much to talk about.
- LeftCoaster

Like most good "conspiracies," there is one decent reason for the culprit to do it, and a million bad ones for why they wouldn't have.

Here's a transfer agreement for it:

Rule $100M: If a Russian wants to play in 2nd tier hockey league, let him. Let the players who want to play in the best league in the world play.

Rule $100M(2): Ban said Russian from ever playing in the best league in the world again.

Rule $100M(3): Don't show Cup rings to Putin if you don't want it stolen.
- trolleytracks

Rule $100M(4) Before a retired NHL player can sign in the KHL the KHL team must pay a penalty of equal value of the remainder of the contracts value to the NHL team who held his rights.

Here's a transfer agreement for it:

Rule $100M: If a Russian wants to play in 2nd tier hockey league, let him. Let the players who want to play in the best league in the world play.

Rule $100M(2): Ban said Russian from ever playing in the best league in the world again.

Rule $100M(3): Don't show Cup rings to Putin if you don't want it stolen.
- trolleytracks

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.

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

To be honest, if you make millions, some baseless criticism is often a part of it, otherwise they wouldn't be making millions.

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

If Ovi left you'd want his head

Good on him for doing what's important to him and his family. Giving up that kind of money is not an easy decision...one would think!
- LeftCoaster

Exactly. All these people talking about how the NHL is the best league in the world..who really cares? Congratulations, North America, you have the best hockey league in the world. Kovy has nothing to prove in this league. He's never won a cup, but so what? It's pretty clear that he is one of the best players in the world right now, and proving it to some anonymous chumps online is probably on the bottom of his totem pole.

he is going to do what makes him happier, and that's the bottom line.

If Ovi left you'd want his head
- XxHarounXx

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.

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

KOVY doesn't have to care about what people on the internet say about him, he has you doing that for him.

You want us to listen to a complete stranger tell us that the remarks of a complete stranger mean nothing and we should shut up but listen to you.

KOVY doesn't have to care about what people on the internet say about him, he has you doing that for him.

You want us to listen to a complete stranger tell us that the remarks of a complete stranger mean nothing and we should shut up but listen to you.
- yaktalksback

uhh.....no. I said the remarks of a stranger means nothing to that individual, so for you guys to get on a high horse and crucify someone for making a personal decision is rather..inane. Insane, even. You attempting to make some weak correlation between Kovy and criticism and my comments and criticism is... just a horrible inference.

He's an entertainer, not a god.

To be honest, if you make millions, some baseless criticism is often a part of it, otherwise they wouldn't be making millions.
- rmdevil313

So after you consider the facts that sports don't really matter, what one individual chooses to do with their life is of no concern to others, and Kovy is unhappy in his current situation...how can you still go on a crusade about how he is this and that? (Not saying you are, speaking in general) Yeah, losing your best player for no reason unexpectedly sucks..but does it affect your daily life? Does it make you happier or unhappier? Lets put the BS aside; we are all humans and we have the choice to be as happy as we can possibly be.

Celebrities are only thus because we let them be. I may be in the minority here, but I don't think they owe me a damn thing. Not Ovi, not Backstrom, not... the guy who created Breaking Bad...celebrities don't owe me anything. Kovy owes Devil fans, NHL fans..nothing. While the crazed masses love to worship other humans, I am not going to sit here and pretend that Kovy owes something to his fans. Entertainers..accountable? We aren't talking about a politician here.

Nice post it was a good read. Right now it's kind of like a kick in the gut. You do whatever for this guy and it seems like he just pissed on the organization I just don't see how you can commit to something for 15 years and then turn around and do that.

It was just outta the blue he was an exciting guy to have on your team. Just sucks he kind of put the franchise on thin ice.

I'm just glad this didn't get ugly with the whole he wouldn't be able to play in the Olympics and khl what not.

Really sucks cause no 1st pick next year.

Hope it works out for him..

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.

So after you consider the facts that sports don't really matter, what one individual chooses to do with their life is of no concern to others, and Kovy is unhappy in his current situation...how can you still go on a crusade about how he is this and that? (Not saying you are, speaking in general) Yeah, losing your best player for no reason unexpectedly sucks..but does it affect your daily life? Does it make you happier or unhappier? Lets put the BS aside; we are all humans and we have the choice to be as happy as we can possibly be.

Celebrities are only thus because we let them be. I may be in the minority here, but I don't think they owe me a damn thing. Not Ovi, not Backstrom, not... the guy who created Breaking Bad...celebrities don't owe me anything. Kovy owes Devil fans, NHL fans..nothing. While the crazed masses love to worship other humans, I am not going to sit here and pretend that Kovy owes something to his fans. Entertainers..accountable? We aren't talking about a politician here.
- Blackstrom2

In terms of curing cancer, ending world wide violence, etc. sports means nothing. But to an individual, sports and by extension, other forms of entertainment means a lot to people. The whole purpose of entertainment is for people to enjoy. When you do things people like, people enjoy you more and you get recognized for it and paid for it. When you do something people don't like, you get criticized as baseless as that criticism may be. If they don't want to be subjected to this criticism, no one is forcing them to make millions. Ultimately, the fans pay the salaries. Just as the fans have the right to obsess over what these entertainers do to make their living, they have the right to be disappointed. I'm having trouble of coming up with more thoughts, if you are still on tomorrow when I'm a little more sober this is a good debate.

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

Tom Gullitti, devils beat writer, brought up the point that if Kovy had announced it before July 5, it could've effected the ability for the Devils to sign players. I don't think that should be overlooked.