OT: Ilya Kovalchuk retires

[Danton Heineken]

https://twitter.com/NHLDevilsPR/status/355409585886076930

I have no words.

Click to read more...

 

[BergyMeister]

Nice of him to do it after FA.

 

[PcLoadLetter]

Just got the notification from the gamecenter app. Definitely was not expecting that.

 

[Shaun]

but really I'm stunned that this happened.

 

[13Hockey]

Woah!!!!

He's walking away from like 70 million bucks

 

[ap3lovr]

What? I hope everything is alright.

 

[PlayMakers]

What?!? He just turned 30. Wow.

 

[Kelly23]

Do the Devils get there pick back?

 

[Shaun]

Worst team in the league and no 1st round pick.

Yikes.

 

[YNWABoston]

Wow.. the Devils haven't even forfeited their pick yet.. I knew it was a dumb move by Lou L. not to give it up last year when it was #29.. .now they could be terrible this year and not have the pick.

 

[BruinAddict]

Good thing NJ got Ryder, he has some big shoes to fill now.

 

[BMC]

Now this is a surprise

Any reason given?

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677712

cites family reasons, ie wanting to move back to Russia.

Will be very curious to see if he decides to play over there.

 

[jmeehan1985]

I bet he comes out of retirement after this season. Can he sign with any team if he does decide to come back next year?

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

If I'm a Devils fan, losing in the finals last year has to really hurt now, b/c it's gonna be a long time before they get back there.

On the bright side, if they play this right they could have a shot at Connor McDavid in a couple years.

 

[LSCII]

Crazy. Still in his prime. I'd be shocked if he didn't sign with a KHL team.

 

[Shaun]

Correction he left $77 million on the table.

He finished with 816pts in 816 games.

 

[Gee Wally]

I bet he comes out of retirement after this season. Can he sign with any team if he does decide to come back next year?

nope. He still has 12 years left on his NJ contract.

 

[Minny Shinny]

Do the Devils get there pick back?

Not only that, but you'd have to think the cap issues with his contract also sort of handcuffed Lou's ability to sign Parise....then Kovy leaves the next year?

Ouch. That's gotta hurt, Devils fans.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Shocking.

 

[Shaun]

Recapture penalty of $250k until 24-25 for NJ according to capgeek.

 

[Danton Heineken]

It's weird how such a stunning announcement happens as the Devils are mired in financial problems.

 

[mikelvl]

Now do they also get screwed with the cap rules for a guy who retires before his long term deal is up?

What a freaking' mushroom cloud that just created over Newark...(please refrain from New Jersey jokes).

 

[Marley]

Wow, didn't see that coming.

 

[BigBadBruin8]

Huh....no ****.

Also, for those who discount the 'Russian factor' this is just another level of many...I'll be flabbergasted if he doesn't play in the KHL and make all that money back and more.