Kovalchuk retires

[OpIv37]

Only 12 years left on his deal :snicker:

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/9470677/ilya-kovalchuk-new-jersey-devils-announces-retire

Unfortunately the Devils can void the contract so they won't eat the cap hit.

[SkateZilla]

He'll Sign a KHL contract tomorrow.

[mightysimi]

Brutal. I hope in turn he blows at the Olympics because of playing inferior competition. Jets lost Burmistrov too. Seems it's pretty dicey to be holding on to Russian players.

[rbochan]

Including the package to acquire him, the penalty for cap circumvention, and who they let go to fit his cap, the Devils have essentially lost:

Two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks, Bergfors, Oduya, Parise, Clarkson, and take 250k cap hit until 2025.

[SkateZilla]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/9478535/ilya-kovalchuk-inks-deal-ska-st-petersburg-russian-khl