Ilya Kovalchuk to RETIRE ( QUIT )from NHL

[metaldude26]

intelligent signings

isn't that an oxymoron

HAHAHA, touche.

[Carcillo]

Best part is NJ will have to forfeit their first rounder next year too!

How sweet it is.

Lamouriello really ****ed up this Kovalchuk situation. Should have acquired him as a rental in the first place and not sign that ridiculous deal.

That 1st rounder next year is going to be high. Last summer I thought that it was a decent decision to keep the pick and get two years of development from the player but not after this move. They lost their best player and will have tough time without Kovalchuk. Should have forfeited last years 29th overall, no question about it. With Kovalchuk the pick could have easily been 20+, now it just might be 1st overall.

[ericdaoust]

I've been in a meeting since after lunch. I'm being punk'd right? Can we just end the joke now?

[doulos]

Let's not go that far D.

Why not? He's living the life he wants to live, in the place he wants to live it, at a tax rate that most of here will never reach, doing something he loves.

[newfcollins]

Kind of interesting that he is retiring before all his money from his contract is due to come. He made $6 million the first two years, $11 million last year, and it was set to be just above that for the next four years. So it's not like it was a front-loaded contract either. He's leaving a lot of money on the table.

[dooley89]

grabovski to NJ!?!?

[dejeanneret]

Umm, WTF is this now?!?

[Shoeless]

Jeremy Roenick ‏@Jeremy_Roenick 39s

Kovalchuk is as selfish as they come!!!! I'm appalled. I feel bad for all u devils fans. U deserve better than that!!

Come on Shakedown - even Mother Theresa was selfish from her toenails to her finger tips. Serving self is what drives all human behavior.

[hawkdog]

Kind of interesting that he is retiring before all his money from his contract is due to come. He made $6 million the first two years, $11 million last year, and it was set to be just above that for the next four years. So it's not like it was a front-loaded contract either. He's leaving a lot of money on the table.

ya but its taxable, I would be pissed if I seen how much tax you pay on that salary
off to the KHL and a tax free salary, he will sign for 10 mill a year and still make 40% more than he would here.
it really just makes financial sense.

[mounD]

I blame Gary Bettman for all of this.

[SeaDawg]

Kind of interesting that he is retiring before all his money from his contract is due to come. He made $6 million the first two years, $11 million last year, and it was set to be just above that for the next four years. So it's not like it was a front-loaded contract either. He's leaving a lot of money on the table.

*if* he plays in the KHL (which I think he will), he will earn probably even more money because his salary is tax free over there

[Shake]

Thomas Vanek to NJ. Book it.

[lucifer316]

you know i wonder what uncle lou knew and how long he knew it

it seems interesting that the first 2 years of this contract were only at $6M

this wasn't a typical front loaded contract the salary structure was quite peculiar

the money wasn't set to go up until following the signing of a new CBA almost as if uncle lou knew that there was a chance that Kovy might leave if he went home yet again so he held back on the money

maybe just crazy conspiracy theories but it seems odd the way the deal is structured

[LawMan]

agreed...this is no different, imo, than what Radulov did.

this essentially allows any other NHL player to say: "I don't like my NHL contract, so I'm retiring from the NHL and going to play in the KHL instead".

This is a ****ing joke. Maybe the Devils don't care because his contract sucks and they know it, but this sets a bad precedent for other players who want to get out of their contracts.

I totally agree. It is my understanding that if he were to sign in the KHL he would not be allowed to play in international competition and with the Olympics in Russia next year I'd think Kovy would want to be a part of that.

I haven't been able to find a copy of the NHL-KHL Agreement but I suspect that if he signed in in the KHL the issue would come down to whether the Devils and/or NHL make an appeal to the IIHF. If no one complains they might let it slide but if the NHL wants to avoid this being a precedent they may try and block his transfer.

[MarmotKing]

I blame Gary Bettman for all of this.

I blame him too. Without his stupid lockout Kovachuk wouldn't have enjoyed time in Russia in the first place.