OT: Kovalchuk retires from the NHL

[Butch 19]

It's a lot easier to say that now.

Not really, it was easy to say it then too. They had the #29 pick to give up, and they kept it. (to try to save face for some odd reason)

Moronic move by Lou no matter how you look at it or what the future held after the 2012 finals.

Has Lou never played poker before and does he not understand that odds really do apply to pretty much everything? He had an incredible easy out, but he held his cards instead of folding when he should have. Now the punishment will be much worse than before.

 

[Deleted member 93010]

It's a lot easier to say that now.

It was pretty easy to say it at the time, too. It was common sense really.

 

[Mats26]

After the Loki trade I was saying on the devils boards to be weary about Kovy and Loki going to the KHL....well I guess I was 50% right. Woudn't surprise me if Loki bolted in the same fashion.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I find it funny how some people are saying the Devils shouldn't lose their pick now.

 

[Shellz]

I find it funny how some people are saying the Devils shouldn't lose their pick now.

I think the funniest part is that they're blaming Bettman or the lockout. I don't see any other players bolting to Russia. Yeah, the only person you can blame is Kovalchuk and Kovalchuk.

 

[driller1]

Can Porkins retire from the KHL and then sign with the Kings?

 

[Buddy The Elf]

That agent he had is probably kicking himself today.

 

[tigermask48]

SKA has no upper limit budget. That team might honestly be spending more on players than ANY team in NHL, no lie. If he can make 10+ million over there and be happier all the better for him. Sucks for NJD fans, but honestly the guy has to make the best decision for him and his life. I do not blame him even slightly for that.

The interesting thing is if the NHL will protest this with regards to the MOU. I imagine that the KHL will tear up that MOU for a Kovalchuk, but how will this play out.

This is a close to home issue for the Kings though, since if NHL protests, KHL rips up the MOU, that would leave Prokhorkin free to sign with Kings and come over (as is his goal obviously after he signed for MUCH less money to head to Manchester last year). Maybe we see Prokhorkin in Manchester and maybe even some time in LA next season.

That was my first thought as well when reading Kovi might go to the KHL. Kind of makes it simple for Porkins to just "Retire" and get out of his KHL deal... Which I'm 100% ok with.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

Is there a new limit for contract lengths with the new CBA? I like how the NBA does it now. 5 years is the max, but only if he stays with his current team. Also, I think it's sad that a foreign league can give higher salaries than the NHL.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Is there a new limit for contract lengths with the new CBA? I like how the NBA does it now. 5 years is the max, but only if he stays with his current team. Also, I think it's sad that a foreign league can give higher salaries than the NHL.

8 years to re-sign own players, 7 years to sign a UFA who was on another team.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Is there a new limit for contract lengths with the new CBA? I like how the NBA does it now. 5 years is the max, but only if he stays with his current team. Also, I think it's sad that a foreign league can give higher salaries than the NHL.

8 years if you are re-signing with your current team, 7 years for all UFA's.

Starting to get there. KHL will start to be real threat real soon (maybe even now with this signing). Teams like SKA St. Petersburgh are backed by Oil Oligarchs that can afford to lose 30-50 million euros a year on salaries without breaking a sweat.

 

[Shellz]

SKA will announce Kovalchuk's signing tomorrow, per @plysenkov, wanted to do it today.

and there ya go...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Can Porkins retire from the KHL and then sign with the Kings?

Would be hilarious if our Russians came to the NHL and started putting up Kovy stat lines

 

[Sydor25]

I guess the schools weren't that great afterall.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Maybe it's just me, but this seems to be a more common issue with Russian players than others. He says it's about family and all that.. Are Russians more prone to loneliness or something? If we were taking him on his word, that is.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Maybe it's just me, but this seems to be a more common issue with Russian players than others. He says it's about family and all that.. Are Russians more prone to loneliness or something? If we were taking him on his word, that is.

Well, the majority of the NHL is North American. I guess the equivalent would be why don't more Swedes go back to the SEL (or SHL? I forget)? And I'm sure the answers lie somewhere between money and home.

That, and Russian hockey has roots in all sorts of shadiness.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Maybe it's just me, but this seems to be a more common issue with Russian players than others. He says it's about family and all that.. Are Russians more prone to loneliness or something? If we were taking him on his word, that is.

Palffy did end up doing something similar to this when he retired during the season when he was a Penguin and returned to Slovakia.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I remember something about Kovalchuk taking his time getting back to NJ after the lockout. I guess that was just the first indication of something.

Lombardi didn't get lucky. Kovalchuk was never coming to the Kings. He was always going back to NJ.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Palffy did end up doing something similar to this when he retired during the season when he was a Penguin and returned to Slovakia.

Ziggy did not return to playing hockey for a year and half. He had legitimate shoulder injuries that needed rehab, and when he returned he returned for next to no money back in his home town team in Skalica (of which he had previous purchased a minority stake in).

I do not see this as a comparable situation at all, unless Kovalchuk does not return until 15-16 for little to no money. I imagine we will find out Kovy will be making 10+ million for multiple years for SKA.

But honestly can you blame the guy? Let's say (since I assume most you are from LA area) you got an offer at work for take home 200K (so like 300K gross I guess don't know the taxes in California although I do hope one day to find out [want to move down there ]) in the LA area compared to gross 125K in say Maine with not Living Out Allowance or Travel that you are currently making. What would you choose?

 

[CNS]

Kovy's also probably going to make more money and be taxed less. And get to be at home with friends and family.

 

[Primakov!]

Is there a new limit for contract lengths with the new CBA? I like how the NBA does it now. 5 years is the max, but only if he stays with his current team. Also, I think it's sad that a foreign league can give higher salaries than the NHL.

NHL owners actually asked for the 5 year limit like with the NBA and it got rejected by the Player's Association.

The 7 year / 8 year limits talked about by Ziggy and Holden was the compromise that was agreed upon.

 

[taz346]

We really dodged a bullet on that signing!

This may sound hard to believe, but when Kings were trying to sign that guy, I remarked at the time, at another site, that I felt he wasn't to be trusted and wouldn't want him, as felt he'd likely return to his Mother Land in a short time. Well, here we are today and he's doing as I predicted. Glad Devils signed him.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Wasn't his wife drinking that LA Haterade too? Time to venture over to the Devils' board...

 

[CNS]

Kovy's also probably going to make more money and be taxed less. And get to be at home with friends and family.

Hey CNS! You're right AGAIN! Gosh you're just the ****ing smartest.

Kovy making $15M in the KHL with SKA. Unreal.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Hey CNS! You're right AGAIN! Gosh you're just the ****ing smartest.

Kovy making $15M in the KHL with SKA. Unreal.