ilya kovalchuk is retiring

[Schildog]

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 51s Ilya Kovalchuk is retiring from the NHL, per the #NHLDevils.

 

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 1m Kovalchuk says spending the year at home in Russia helped contribute to retirement decision. He had $77M and 12 years left on his contract.

 

albert should take note of this.

[Thomas]

I'm still not sure what remaining salary cap issues this leaves the Devils.

 

So they lost the 1st round pick for next year's draft for bypassing the CBA

They couldn't resign Zach Parise because of the signing

 

Thank you hockey gods again for the Kings not being able to sign him.

[NJHalo]

Wow, I just read that.

 

I think he saw the roster and said "F this, I'm going back to Russia"

 

No wonder they blew a wad of cash on Clowe

 

Glad I am not a Devils fan.

 

Marty is gonna have a rough year for his farewell tour

[gotbeer]

According to Capgeek, they still are $4 million under the cap.  Whether Ilya's salary counts still is a big question.

[Schildog]

apparently it's a $250k hit each of the next 12 years for the devils.

[bucbrett]

Ilya bailed to go get paid handsomely at home. The KHL/Russia is throwing insane money around. Oil just lost Teemu Hartikainen a few weeks ago. Even marginal players get ridiculous deals over there.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/ilya-kovalchuk-join-ska-could-earn-20-million-210237775.html

[gotbeer]

apparently it's a $250k hit each of the next 12 years for the devils.

 

Yeah, capgeek updated they salary.  Devils now have $10 million in cap space.

[HaloCory22]

This is nuts. Can't believe hes leaving so much money on the table at 30. Gotta give him props though for thinking of his family first. Granted, he'll probably get paid in the KHL like you guys mentioned.

[Thomas]

The reported contracts for the KHL don't include the envelopes of money if the team does well handed out in the locker room.

[Tank]

i can't believe he's leaving 77 mil on the table here. citing "family" oftentimes is the same as the kings describing a player's hernia as a "lower body injury".

[mrwicked]

he's leaving a ton on the table but will probably make more over there.

plus gets to play at home, and no crazy american taxes. 

he's always wanted to go back, he was pretty reluctant to return after the lockout afaik,

 

he was awesome, insane hands and wrist shot.

[Puckfiend]

Thank you hockey gods again for the Kings not being able to sign him.

 

Amen, brother!! 

 

I do feel bad for the Devils fans though. That's gotta be a kick in the nuts to lose a guy in his prime after signing a 'lifetime' contract just a couple seasons ago.

[Kenny]

[halobob]

I also believe the money earned in the KHL is tax free.

[NJHalo]

I have a good friend who is a trainer with the Devils. Spoke to him about this today.

 

He told me Kovalchuk was a hated man amongst the team ever since he signed that big contract with the Devils.

 

Always dogged it in practice.

 

A lot of resentment that he got the money that should have been saved for Parise.

[mrwicked]

yeah this is terrible for the devils - they lost parise because of it.

i dunno about the locker room but he played fine for them tho and earned the money he made whilst there.

 

but still - ouch. what a slap in the face.

was a stupid contract from the get go. 

[deepdrive]

It's a good thing the Ducks aren't crazy about Russians anymore.

[Tank]

Reprts are he's been offered a four deal by a Russian team.