Confirmed with Link: Kovalchuk Retires/Quits To Russia (Part 4)

[guyincognito]

Obviously you don't have to "agree" to the CBA to play in the league. The 10% or so that vote down CBA's down don't just vanish into thin air. You have to ABIDE by it, though. So it's a moot argument about semantics.

 

[apice3*]

Obviously you don't have to "agree" to the CBA to play in the league. The 10% or so that vote down CBA's down don't just vanish into thin air. You have to ABIDE by it, though. So it's a moot argument about semantics.

What do Jews have to do with this?

 

[Puckschmuck*]

Not sure if serious

Burmi is not > or = Kovy

Yeah, I get what you are saying, but I wasn't trying to say the two are of equal star power. I'm just saying that it happens. But if it starts to become a habit of Russian players, then we are perhaps going to have issues down the road.

 

[sbresistor]

I think Kovalchuk is an orthodox Christian - but that's neither here nor there

 

[apice3*]

Yeah, I get what you are saying, but I wasn't trying to say the two are of equal star power. I'm just saying that it happens. But if it starts to become a habit of Russian players, then we are perhaps going to have issues down the road.

Burmistrov and 17's situations aren't even on the same planet. Not even taking ability into consideration, Bumistrov was a free agent. 17 signed his life to the Devils and bailed.

 

[glenwo2]

So when are we going to stop talking about this piece of crap(Traitorchuk, I mean)?

 

[MJB Devils23*]

Burmistrov and 17's situations aren't even on the same planet. Not even taking ability into consideration, Bumistrov was a free agent. 17 signed his life to the Devils and bailed.

Radulov did a far worse deed than Kovy. Remember, this was a mutual separation. Lou respects Kovy's decision. To me, that's good enough.

 

[DevilChuk*]

Obviously you don't have to "agree" to the CBA to play in the league. The 10% or so that vote down CBA's down don't just vanish into thin air. You have to ABIDE by it, though. So it's a moot argument about semantics.

Pretty much. I never meant they needed to vote "yes" during the ratification process.

Which, if we get back to the original post on this subject, means that a buyout isn't breaking the contract illegally as it is in the CBA that players are contractually obligated to abide.

 

[Bleedred]

I respect everyone's opinions, but I'm very surprised at the sympathy towards Kovalchuk here from a few people.

I would go as far as to say Zach got less sympathy than Kovalchuk is getting.

 

[MJB Devils23*]

I respect everyone's opinions, but I'm very surprised at the sympathy towards Kovalchuk here from a few people.

I would go as far as to say Zach got less sympathy than Kovalchuk is getting.

I can forgive him simply because I couldn't turn down an offer like that if it were me. Also he's obviously not happy about the lockout ramifications. I was on the owners' side during that debacle, but I certainly can understand why players would be upset too. Also I can't fault his reasoning. Again if Lou is fine with it, I am fine with it.

 

[Bleedred]

I can forgive him simply because I couldn't turn down an offer like that if it were me. Also he's obviously not happy about the lockout ramifications. I was on the owners' side during that debacle, but I certainly can understand why players would be upset too. Also I can't fault his reasoning. Again if Lou is fine with it, I am fine with it.

I didn't mean for it to sound like I was singling you out, my apologies if it seemed like that.

The people angry with him (Most of this board) are much more angrier than they were with Zach, but there's seems to be more sympathy for him than Zach from a few others.

 

[guyincognito]

Radulov did a far worse deed than Kovy. Remember, this was a mutual separation. Lou respects Kovy's decision. To me, that's good enough.

Sure it was, and sure he does. Just because they can control their emotions and not spazz out to the press doesn't mean it was mutual or amicable or whatever. I think nuking the contract is much more an act of spite than people are giving credit for.

 

[NJDevs26]

I didn't mean for it to sound like I was singling you out, my apologies if it seemed like that.

The people angry with him (Most of this board) are much more angrier than they were with Zach, but there's seems to be more sympathy for him than Zach from a few others.

It is an interesting dichotomy. Personally I'm angrier cause he walked out on a contract - and a contract we're still paying for. Maybe some others are less angry cause he didn't go to another team we're actually playing, or misallocating anger they already had towards the league and blaming the merc leaving for that.

One other difference...Zach did actually leave money on the table (Flyers among others), the Russian merc didn't.

 

[tycobb]

I didn't mean for it to sound like I was singling you out, my apologies if it seemed like that.

The people angry with him (Most of this board) are much more angrier than they were with Zach, but there's seems to be more sympathy for him than Zach from a few others.

Devil "fans" disliked Kovy even before he quit. Every game I been too there was more than a few people near me booing every mistake Kovy made.

Sure it was, and sure he does. Just because they can control their emotions and not spazz out to the press doesn't mean it was mutual or amicable or whatever. I think nuking the contract is much more an act of spite than people are giving credit for.

Nuking the contract is a godsend to the team long term. If Kovy was on the market for a 3 year deal - he would have gotten a max contract. We were able to build a team to make the finals because Kovy cap hit was only 6.66 million. Also Kovy took a significant financial risk by quitting. KHL contracts aren't as guaranteed like the money he was set to get. If he were to suffer a serious injury there is a chance he would lose millions of dollars.

 

[Bleedred]

It is an interesting dichotomy. Personally I'm angrier cause he walked out on a contract - and a contract we're still paying for. Maybe some others are less angry cause he didn't go to another team we're actually playing, or misallocating anger they already had towards the league and blaming the merc leaving for that.

One other difference...Zach did actually leave money on the table (Flyers among others), the Russian merc didn't.

My biggest issue is that he backed out of his contract. Zach just went to free agency after honoring his contract. The merc went out and backed out of his contract. Then left for the Krappy Hockey League against bush league competition, and for wads of cash.

 

[glenwo2]

I didn't mean for it to sound like I was singling you out, my apologies if it seemed like that.

The people angry with him (Most of this board) are much more angrier than they were with Zach, but there's seems to be more sympathy for him than Zach from a few others.

There are those that try to rationalize Kovy's actions and they have their own theories on why he did what he did. There's always a method to one's madness, as the saying goes.

That said, I will always remain bitter and angry toward him because he basically wanted to "abandon ship" out of a 15-year commitment, so to speak, for mainly Monetary Gain in another friggin' League that, IMO, should NOT be allowed to "entice" Players UNDER CONTRACT with the NHL to come play in their 2nd-rate league. The lockout provided the KHL the opportunity to TAMPER with Kovy so much, it was ridiculous.

Happy Trails, Traitorchuk. Hope you can build a big enough Money-Bin to hold not just your money but your swelled head....

 

[tycobb]

It is an interesting dichotomy. Personally I'm angrier cause he walked out on a contract - and a contract we're still paying for. Maybe some others are less angry cause he didn't go to another team we're actually playing, or misallocating anger they already had towards the league and blaming the merc leaving for that.

One other difference...Zach did actually leave money on the table (Flyers among others), the Russian merc didn't.

There was a team crazy enough to give Zach more than 13/98 million with 10 million guaranteed upfront when the owner knew a lockout was going to happen? Pretty sure Zach didn't leave any money on the table and if there was a few million more it would have probably been on the back end of the deal which wouldn't have really matter since Zach will retire before the end of it.

 

[MJB Devils23*]

I didn't mean for it to sound like I was singling you out, my apologies if it seemed like that.

The people angry with him (Most of this board) are much more angrier than they were with Zach, but there's seems to be more sympathy for him than Zach from a few others.

I certainly was upset at how he did it. I hated how he didn't call a press conference or something right after the Ranger loss. The way he did it was like breaking up with someone through a text message.

 

[tycobb]

I certainly was upset at how he did it. I hated how he didn't call a press conference or something right after the Ranger loss. The way he did it was like breaking up with someone through a text message.

Apparently he told Lou early in the offseason that he was leaving. Lou probably told Kovy/agent not announce it until after the FA signing period. I am not sure Ryder signs with us if he sees Kovy not on the team. Or we would have to offer more to get Ryder to sign with us.

 

[Nick0930]

Radulov did a far worse deed than Kovy. Remember, this was a mutual separation. Lou respects Kovy's decision. To me, that's good enough.

I don't think so. I think Lou knew if he didn't "respect Ilya's decision", Ilya would've just floated on the ice for the remainder of the contract.

 

[JimEIV]

I would hate to be on new team feeling duped into a contract.... if that was actually the motivation it was a dumb move IMO.

 

[glenwo2]

I would hate to be on new team feeling duped into a contract.... if that was actually the motivation it was a dumb move IMO.

Yeah. I hope the players that signed don't start pouting as a result.....

 

[tycobb]

I would hate to be on new team feeling duped into a contract.... if that was actually the motivation it was a dumb move IMO.

IMO Lou knew he would have had an easier time selling the team to FA without the Kovy news.

 

[manilaNJ]

He could have known, but he could have been doing his damnedest to convince the guy to stay, as well. He hit the free agent market with this in mind, most likely, but who knows what was known for certain.

There were a few things he said now that make sense. When asked if he was done on the FA market, he made mention of some "moving parts" he had to consider before deciding what else to do and that he may not be done yet.

So, I think the possibility was starting to come more real, but it's likely that he didn't know that it was a sure thing.

 

[Uli Hiemer]

Zach leaving hurt more for me because he always felt like a Devil to me.
Drafted by team, developed by the team, and just in the way he played.

Kovalchuk was a merc from the beginning.....