Kovalchuk Announces His Retirement

[Kin]

I agree. Sentimentality aside, a big part of his legacy will be as a quitter, and that's going to hurt his chances a lot.

If he left a KHL contact to join the NHL would he be labeled a quitter?

You can't really compare a KHL team to an NHL team though. One is in a league that's second rate, and it's expected that players will depart in their endeavour to play amongst the best in the world; and the other is the cream of the crop.

I actually look at it the other way. The KHL isn't as good a league as the NHL, sure, but that's not by design. They don't want to be a second class league. That effort, trying to build a league that's on par with the NHL, that's a harder effort for a player to be a part of even if the quality of hockey isn't as good. Nobody looks back at Bobby Hull or Dave Keon, who also took higher salaries to play in a lower quality league, as cowards and it didn't keep either one of them out of the Hall of Fame.

 

[KW Sluggo]

Did you break a contract to take the job? I think a  certain level of responsibility is expected to be upheld when you are under a contract, if Ilya didn't see himself wanting to be here this long, he should of signed that long.

I did. Why is that an issue? I have the right, when I sign that contract to break that contract just as my employer had the right to break the contract by firing me and paying me compensation.

My only penalty for breaking the contract was that I couldn't go work for my direct competition.

I'm sorry to all those out there that feel that Ilya, myself, or anyone else has to be loyal to their employers. They're not loyal to me. If someone better at the job comes along, I'll be bouncing down the street on my rear end. So would of Ilya Kovalchuk.

As for those that say he only went home because of the contract....Well yeah...I wouldn't of quit my job to be closer to the kids and family unless I knew I could provide for that wife and kids while at home.

Actually, the employee does owe the employer reasonable notice of termination just the same as it is owed to the employee by the employer.

Rarely does an employer sue an employee who leaves with little or no notice but occasionally it does occur.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Did you break a contract to take the job? I think a  certain level of responsibility is expected to be upheld when you are under a contract, if Ilya didn't see himself wanting to be here this long, he should of signed that long.

I did. Why is that an issue? I have the right, when I sign that contract to break that contract just as my employer had the right to break the contract by firing me and paying me compensation.

My only penalty for breaking the contract was that I couldn't go work for my direct competition.

I'm sorry to all those out there that feel that Ilya, myself, or anyone else has to be loyal to their employers. They're not loyal to me. If someone better at the job comes along, I'll be bouncing down the street on my rear end. So would of Ilya Kovalchuk.

As for those that say he only went home because of the contract....Well yeah...I wouldn't of quit my job to be closer to the kids and family unless I knew I could provide for that wife and kids while at home.

Actually, the employee does owe the employer reasonable notice of termination just the same as it is owed to the employee by the employer.

Rarely does an employer sue an employee who leaves with little or no notice but occasionally it does occur.

Completely. I was speaking in my case. Notice was given and I moved on.

As much as I don't agree with the timing of Kovalchuk's decision, I find it hard to believe that the Devils did not know about it prior to the announcement.

 

[Rick C.]

I'm probably more sympathetic towards Kovalchuk than most. I just can't blame a guy for making a family oriented decision. Yeah, it will most likely leave a bad taste in most people's mouths but to be fair to the player, he probably knew that going in which likely made the decision all the more difficult. I can't say I have any less respect for the guy than I did last week to be honest.

EDIT: I don't like the timing though.  :-\

But is that really true? The guy is going back to Russia to play in a league where he will probably double his annual salary. Moreover, nobody held a gun to his head and told him to sign a huge, long term NHL contract. I'm actually surprised so many people on here are defending the guy; this is a pretty selfish, spineless move if you ask me.

Would you feel that way if he retired from the KHL to play in the NHL?  Probably not, you'd welcome him with open arms.  I think your feelings are hurt because he quit "your" league to go play for that "rival" league.

Nope because I can't stand Kovalchuck. This dates back to the WJC where he was just an embarassment on the ice.

Well that's your problem. You can't call someone selfish and spineless just because you don't like him for whatever delusional reasons you've cooked up in your mind.

But hey, I'm not mad at the guy, I just think he is taking an easy way out to go make more money and play against inferior opponents. KHL isn't a rival league because it doesn't come near the talent level of the NHL. Kovalchuck is a world class talent taking a paycheque to play in a lesser league. I would feel the same way if Jose Bautista left to play in the Dominican for 20 Million a year, too.

It's his perrogative to "take the easy way out".  If he wants himself and his family to be surrounded by his own language, culture and people and make more money in the process, why shouldn't he?  Not to mention he'll play in a league that's more skill-based (which is his forte) and less violent (which lowers his chances of getting seriously injured).

But no, that's not fine by you.  Just to please you, he should stay in the NHL for less money and get concussed by violent people (edited by cw) that can't even play hockey?  OMG you're so right!! He's so spineless and selfish for not taking into consideration your feelings, even  though you admitted you can't stand him.

Nice language. I also wonder why you are so bothered and angered by this discussion? Maybe take a break, relax, and work on those anger issues. 

P.S How is Seguin doing? He still an "immoral punk"? Yea, I guess judging people only works one way for you.

Come on folks.  Get outside and get some sunshine - forget hockey and this rivalry in this thread.  Hell, even have a beer on me!

 

[Joe S.]

I agree. Sentimentality aside, a big part of his legacy will be as a quitter, and that's going to hurt his chances a lot.

If he left a KHL contact to join the NHL would he be labeled a quitter?

Nope.  He'd be heralded as the next coming of Jesus.

Well, you can't blame Jesus for not wanting to play for the Devils.  What would his father think?

Everyone knows Joseph was a habs fan.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Did you break a contract to take the job? I think a  certain level of responsibility is expected to be upheld when you are under a contract, if Ilya didn't see himself wanting to be here this long, he should of signed that long.

I did. Why is that an issue? I have the right, when I sign that contract to break that contract just as my employer had the right to break the contract by firing me and paying me compensation.

My only penalty for breaking the contract was that I couldn't go work for my direct competition.

I'm sorry to all those out there that feel that Ilya, myself, or anyone else has to be loyal to their employers. They're not loyal to me. If someone better at the job comes along, I'll be bouncing down the street on my rear end. So would of Ilya Kovalchuk.

As for those that say he only went home because of the contract....Well yeah...I wouldn't of quit my job to be closer to the kids and family unless I knew I could provide for that wife and kids while at home.

Actually, the employee does owe the employer reasonable notice of termination just the same as it is owed to the employee by the employer.

Rarely does an employer sue an employee who leaves with little or no notice but occasionally it does occur.

Completely. I was speaking in my case. Notice was given and I moved on.

As much as I don't agree with the timing of Kovalchuk's decision, I find it hard to believe that the Devils did not know about it prior to the announcement.

Indeed, everything I've read has either directly said Lamiorello knew and helped Kovalchuk come to the decision, or implied as much. The SKA team president also mentioned his involvement today.

 

[TML fan]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

 

[pnjunction]

I think it's a selfish decision but he has the right to make it.  The question is should players have the right to get out contracts scot-free like this, yes teams can buy out but there are consequences (which have gotten more severe in the new CBA).  Hard to say how it could work unless there is some sort of agreement with the KHL though.

Going forward couldn't this cause some havoc if players see this as an option?  Picture a player (European or not) who considers himself underpaid in a long-term contract.  If all they wanted were dollars can they just walk away to the KHL?  Sure they might not be able to come back but if they are around 30 and walking away from a $20M contract to a $50M one...  It would be even worse if a team had just traded an arm and leg to acquire such a player and their contract.

I wonder how many times it would have to happen before the two leagues were willing to talk transfer agreement.  Of course if the flow is all one-way the KHL might not want to talk at all until they suffer some losses (which is possible I suppose given that they have a salary cap system as well).

 

[Deebo]

yes teams can buy out but there are consequences (which have gotten more severe in the new CBA). 

Consequence to the club, sure, but that doesn't effect the player. The player still signed a contract for a certain amount of money and the club makes a decision to pay the player less total dollars over twice the amount of years to serve them self.

 

[Bullfrog]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

One of the top 3 goal scorers of the last decade? I won't forget him so easily.

 

[Kin]

Going forward couldn't this cause some havoc if players see this as an option?  Picture a player (European or not) who considers himself underpaid in a long-term contract.  If all they wanted were dollars can they just walk away to the KHL?  Sure they might not be able to come back but if they are around 30 and walking away from a $20M contract to a $50M one...  It would be even worse if a team had just traded an arm and leg to acquire such a player and their contract.

I think you'd have to have a pretty low threshold for what constitutes havoc to see that in the future as a result of this. For years the NHL has benefited from the fact that when it came to players they didn't really have competition from other leagues. Now there is some. Competition doesn't mean havoc. It's the natural order for most businesses.

I wonder how many times it would have to happen before the two leagues were willing to talk transfer agreement.  Of course if the flow is all one-way the KHL might not want to talk at all until they suffer some losses (which is possible I suppose given that they have a salary cap system as well).

But the people at the KHL would laugh at the idea that they don't suffer losses. In their eyes they lose way more players to the NHL via the draft then they gain because of contracts like this. Any transfer agreement in the future where the NHL tried to protect themselves from this would almost certainly have the KHL respond by saying that they'd have to be individually and directly compensated for their younger players, something the NHL has specifically refused in the past.

 

[bustaheims]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

One of the top 3 goal scorers of the last decade? I won't forget him so easily.

Kovalwho?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

One of the top 3 goal scorers of the last decade? I won't forget him so easily.

Kovalwho?

You know, that guy that played for the Atlanta Flames.

 

[Deebo]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

One of the top 3 goal scorers of the last decade? I won't forget him so easily.

At the very least, Devils fans will remember him.

 

[bustaheims]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

One of the top 3 goal scorers of the last decade? I won't forget him so easily.

Kovalwho?

You know, that guy that played for the Atlanta Flames.

Kovalenko never played for the Flames!

 

[Kin]

In a year nobody will even remember this guy played.

One of the top 3 goal scorers of the last decade? I won't forget him so easily.

Kovalwho?

You know, that guy that played for the Atlanta Flames.

Kovalenko never played for the Flames!

Guys, I know it's difficult to pronounce but it's spelled O-v-e-c-h-k-i-n.

 

[maplesyrup]

Feels like not to long ago the Kovalchuk / Savard / Heatley line was the most dangerous line in hockey. Now there's a sixth of it left.

 

[ZBBM]

I wonder what he'll be making with SKA St Pete?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427755

 

[Champ Kind]

Feels like not to long ago the Kovalchuk / Savard / Heatley line was the most dangerous line in hockey. Now there's a sixth of it left.

How do you get to 1/6'th?  Heatley is 1/4'th the player he used to be?

 

[pnjunction]

I think you'd have to have a pretty low threshold for what constitutes havoc to see that in the future as a result of this.

For the league as a whole it might not be a big deal, but we'll see who the first big victim is.

New Jersey is probably secretly happy that he's gone, especially due to the new recapture rules that would've nailed them hard if he'd played a few years of 10M+ seasons before bailing.

Hypothetical scenario, let's say the Leafs were to do a Kessel-like trade for a young player like Yakupov.  Then a year into a 5-year deal he bolts.  Leaf fans would be pretty pissed off and I think havoc would describe their reaction pretty well.

I hadn't considered that the KHL would want compensation for young players coming over, and you're right that might keep talks from getting anywhere.  Still I think if half a dozen or so big contracts turned out not to be worth the paper they were written on the league would have to do something, perhaps unilaterally.  Damages for bailing on a contract to play somewhere else?  I wonder if they'd try to push for that in the next CBA, obviously it would be tough sell.