Speculation: Kovalchuk a Free agent

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Well, this summer Kovalchuk will be a free agent and has recently spoke about a return to the NHL

''We will see, everything is possible. Why couldn't I return to NHL? I'll have all options open that can benefit my career." - Kovalchuk

is it unrealistic or realistic that he makes a return?

All 31 teams would need to approve his return but as of 2017/2018 season he can return without needing approval so would it just be looked at as delaying the inevitable?

Would any teams actually be interested? How much would it take?

Just looking for some discussion in the possibility of his return!

Click to read more...

 

[Cogburn]

7 years at league max. Match that suckers!

 

[SpookyHockey]

Well, this summer Kovalchuk will be a free agent and has recently spoke about a return to the NHL

''We will see, everything is possible. Why couldn't I return to NHL? I'll have all options open that can benefit my career." - Kovalchuk

is it unrealistic or realistic that he makes a return?

All 31 teams would need to approve his return but as of 2017/2018 season he can return without needing approval so would it just be looked at as delaying the inevitable?

Would any teams actually be interested? How much would it take?

Just looking for some discussion in the possibility of his return!

According to this article, he would need permission from all 30 (31 now I guess) GMs if he signs with an NHL team before the 2018-19 season.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/report-says-ilya-kovalchuk-could-be-back-in-nhl-by-2016-17

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Yah, that's what I meant when I mentioned it in the opening post.

Still, wouldn't that just be delaying the inevitable for a single year? Know what I mean?

 

[VoynovsParoleOfficer]

speakly solely out of opinion with zero knowledge of the situation i think all 31 teams would agree without a doubt, as a league we should want as many big name and big skill players as possible and kovy even at this point in time is still exactly that...personally would like to see him back on NJ maybe slotted with zacha and palmieri when the time comes but anyhow interesting stuff look forward to seeing how it goes down

 

[Rorschach]

I heard he isn't good enough now defensively to be a NHLer anymore?

 

[NYI365]

Kovalchuk to NYI this summer to make the transition for fellow KHLer G Ilya Sorokin the following year seamless. E5

 

[SpookyHockey]

Yah, that's what I meant when I mentioned it in the opening post.

Still, wouldn't that just be delaying the inevitable for a single year? Know what I mean?

Sorry, missed that.

It would, if he wants to come over. Does the Devils brass have any ill will toward Kovalchuck. That seems like the big team you'd have to convince to give permission.

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

I heard he isn't good enough now defensively to be a NHLer anymore?

Kovi this.year is a complete beast

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

I heard he isn't good enough now defensively to be a NHLer anymore?

You may be right, he seems to be re-energized this season and really having himself quite the season offensively in the KHL. Currently second in goals and points in the league.

 

[Prairie Habs]

Come join your pals Markov, Emelin, Radulov, Galchenyuk, Sergachev, and Scherbak (and soon to be Shipachev) in Montreal.

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Sorry, missed that.

It would, if he wants to come over. Does the Devils brass have any ill will toward Kovalchuck. That seems like the big team you'd have to convince to give permission.

That's one of the teams I'd be worried about as well, him leaving did really help them long term cap wise though.

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Come join your pals Markov, Emelin, Radulov, Galchenyuk, Sergachev, and Scherbak (and soon to be Shipachev) in Montreal.

As a leafs fan, please no.

 

[irunthepeg]

Why would a retired player come back 4 years later?

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Why would a retired player come back 4 years later?

Being 33 if he signs a multi-year deal with a team in the KHL that might rule out any chance for a return as he's not exactly young anymore. it might be his last chance.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Been there, done that. Shero isn't Lou and won't bring him back. Let him join the Rangers.

 

[flyersfan018]

Come join your pals Markov, Emelin, Radulov, Galchenyuk, Sergachev, and Scherbak (and soon to be Shipachev) in Montreal.

I'd be so jealous.

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Been there, done that. Shero isn't Lou and won't bring him back. Let him join the Rangers.

As a devil's fan and knowing Sweet Lou, think he'd be interested in bringing him to Toronto?

 

[Prairie Habs]

Why would a retired player come back 4 years later?

This may surprise you but when he retied from the NHL he continued playing hockey. If you were working on the other side of the world from your family is it that weird to want to go home for a while? Is it that weird to then realize that your family is horrible and want to go back to the other side of the world?

Think of it less as retiring and more as going from one company to another then wanting to go back.

 

[On Edge]

Let him to to the Vegas Golden Knights...er...Golden Nuggets? ... Golden Years?...Stolen Gold?

 

[BAM]

Marner-Matthews-Kovalchuk

Hmmmm...

 

[Prairie Habs]

As a leafs fan, please no.

I'd be so jealous.

Real talk. Its nice to see people actually appreciating Russian players again. Even back in 2012 when Galchenyuk, Yakupov, and Grigorenko were all looking to go high in the draft way too many people were comfortable saying they didn't want anything to do with them simply because they are Russian. Since then guys like Tarasenko, Kucherov, Panarin, Galchenyuk, and others have put haters in there place and it feels more free to be about what a player can do and not where they are from. Refreshing.

 

[llamateizer]

I don't see how 31 GM would accept that ?

 

[Rebels57]

I'd be so jealous.

He can come join Provorov, Lyubimov, Rubstov and Vorobyov in Philly instead.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

Obviously will sign a 1 year league minimum deal with CHI.