Jedi 1,865 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Per @NHLDevilsPR (The NJD communications department twitter feed)... BREAKING: Ilya Kovalchuk has announced his retirement. Looks like the Devils won't get hit too hard with his "recapture" penalty for retirement, according to CapGeek. $250k/year, which isn't too bad. But it's until 2024/2025... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Axe Report post Posted July 11, 2013 What does this mean for the Devs financially? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e_prime 1,936 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 WHOA! Am I missing something here? Was there talk of this anywhere prior to this tweet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 324 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) This is probably more positive than negative for NJ. I think he's going back to Russia. On TSN it says he retired from the NHL, not all of hockey. Edited July 11, 2013 by Dave Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heikks86 21 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 wow thats a big surprise hes only 30. and i think hes been pretty healthy lately Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Due to the new CBA I believe they have to eat that salary. WOW what s***ty timing. I wonder if he gave them a heads up about this? I would think if they new he would have been a compliance buy out! http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427507 "After many conversations with Ilya over the past year on his desire to retire from the National Hockey League, Ilya's decision became official today," said general manager Lou Lamoriello in a statement. "On behalf of the entire organization, I wish Ilya and his family all the best in their future endeavors." Sounds like he is off to KHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jedi 1,865 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 What does this mean for the Devs financially? I updated my original post. Unless I did the calculator wrong (or am reading it wrong, which is certainly possible), it's a $250k/year hit until 2024/2025. So Kovalchuk costs the Devils a $3 million fine, a loss of a first round draft pick and a third round pick just to get him re-signed, and then rewards them with a lengthy cap hit when he decides it's time to go back to Mother Russia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingedominance13 112 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 So back to the khl? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amato 3,210 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Perhaps the biggest shocker in the hockey world in a long time, wow. Gunna miss watching kovy, he was one of my favorite players 1 Marxx71 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Datsyukian Videos 2 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 KHL! I was afraid that Datsyuk was going to retire this year after Elliot Friedman said he may go back to the KHL next year because he had so much fun - I wonder if Kovy had the same thoughts... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sprsquirt7 45 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Yea Capgeek has it at 250K, which is almost negligible in the long term. When he retires they won't have to pay him anything so for a team that was not financially well off, this is probably best... but holy crap they are gonna suck. If people didn't watch the devils at all they wouldn't realize how much kovalchuk actually does and how valuable he actually is. Hard to really contemplate this in its totality at the moment. 2 wingedominance13 and Marxx71 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingedominance13 112 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Yea Capgeek has it at 250K, which is almost negligible in the long term. When he retires they won't have to pay him anything so for a team that was not financially well off, this is probably best... but holy crap they are gonna suck. If people didn't watch the devils at all they wouldn't realize how much kovalchuk actually does and how valuable he actually is. Hard to really contemplate this in its totality at the moment. Seriously he played like 27 min a night. Double shifted all the time. 1 Marxx71 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BottleOfSmoke 5,965 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Wow...! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SaCkaveli20 275 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 HOLY f***One of my favorite players...I'm in shock... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 I updated my original post. Unless I did the calculator wrong (or am reading it wrong, which is certainly possible), it's a $250k/year hit until 2024/2025. Well then that is not as bad as I would have thought. What if he pulls a Hudler and wants back in two years? I know a weird question, but can he come back as a free agent while NJD pays him until 2025? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Axe Report post Posted July 11, 2013 I updated my original post. Unless I did the calculator wrong (or am reading it wrong, which is certainly possible), it's a $250k/year hit until 2024/2025. So Kovalchuk costs the Devils a $3 million fine, a loss of a first round draft pick just to get him re-signed, and then rewards them with a lengthy cap hit when he decides it's time to go back to Mother Russia. Thanks bro. I dont feel as much animosity toward him now. Its mostly just positive animosity in that I wont get to watch his wicked shot any more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jedi 1,865 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Well then that is not as bad as I would have thought. What if he pulls a Hudler and wants back in two years? I know a weird question, but can he come back as a free agent while NJD pays him until 2025? No, if he were to return, he would still be contractually obligated to play for New Jersey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) Wow, what a class act; he really screwed over the Devils here. He cost them millions of dollars in fines, a first-round pick, and the chance to re-sign Parise, and now he jets almost a week after free agency began. Edited July 11, 2013 by Crymson Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Axe Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Wow, what a class act; he really screwed over the Devils here. He cost them millions of dollars in fines, two high-round draft picks, and the chance to re-sign Parise, and now he jets almost a week after free agency began. Lou wishes him the best, and then calls Luca. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ogreslayer 1,069 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Well then that is not as bad as I would have thought. What if he pulls a Hudler and wants back in two years? I know a weird question, but can he come back as a free agent while NJD pays him until 2025? NJ won't be paying him until then, they'll have a cap penalty. I would assume that if he were to decide to come back though, the NHL will consider his contract with the Devils still valid so he would not be a UFA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 NJ won't be paying him until then, they'll have a cap penalty. I would assume that if he were to decide to come back though, the NHL will consider his contract with the Devils still valid so he would not be a UFA. Good point, since he retired he will not be getting paid. Brain fart on my part! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Lou wishes him the best, and then calls Luca. Sadly for the Devils, it appears that he was murdered by Sollozzo some time ago. 1 GMRwings1983 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ogreslayer 1,069 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Given all the press on him possibly not wanting to return to the NHL post-lockout last season, this news isn't as shocking as it could be imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stillwater 186 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) Sadly for the Devils, it appears that he was murdered by Sollozzo some time ago. Yep, The Turk is dead too, and so is the guy who killed him. Meanwhile, I agree, bad timing on the part of Kovalchuk. Edited July 11, 2013 by stillwater Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted July 11, 2013 Yep, The Turk is dead, and so is the guy who killed him. It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes. 1 GMRwings1983 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites