It's a good day for the NJD organization. $6.5M in cap space and $77M off the books. That contract will have been an albatross in a couple of years.
- phillydentist

Five bucks says he pulls a Radulov and begs to come back after flying 3000+ miles on second-rate aircraft for in-conference games and staying in 2-star motels for a year.

Yup, tax-free mega deal probably already lined up. Big victory for the KHL.
- Tomahawk

HUGE victory for the KHL, and I wouldnt be surprised to see Bryz, and a few others heading over.

The presence of Russian players is the lowest its been in years... and it seems as though the KHL will continue to pull its players.

WOW.

Just read the news. Debs fans must be stunned. And that they have to give up their first pick next year also adds insult to injury.

On the plus side, a lot of cap space just opened up.

Didn't see it coming. Glad it's happening. The Devils are officially done!!
- dingo8urbaby

Maybe they'll pull an Ottawa and use a lot of prospects

Five bucks says he pulls a Radulov and begs to come back after flying 3000+ miles on second-rate aircraft for in-conference games and staying in 2-star motels for a year.
- jmatchett383

He will be a king over there.

His salary was actually less than his cap-hit for the first couple of years... Lou timed the huge salary increases to kick in post-lockout.

They didn't get any 'cap advantage' thusfar, hence the small penalty.
- Tomahawk

Sounds like he knew something we didn't.

They basically gave up Parise and a first rounder for Kovalchuk. Along with the assets they traded for him. Now he leaves them.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's still not as bad as the Pronger career ending injury for the Flyers. At least his cap hit comes off completely and they don't have to deal with LTIR bs.

Five bucks says he pulls a Radulov and begs to come back after flying 3000+ miles on second-rate aircraft for in-conference games and staying in 2-star motels for a year.
- jmatchett383

You'd be surprised. Russians don't care as much about those things as we do. He must have had an amazing experience during the NHL lockout. He probably longed to return ever since.

Didn't see it coming. Glad it's happening. The Devils are officially done!!
- dingo8urbaby

Don't count Lou out. Broudeur will move to LW and score 45 goals next year.

HUGE victory for the KHL, and I wouldnt be surprised to see Bryz, and a few others heading over.

The presence of Russian players is the lowest its been in years... and it seems as though the KHL will continue to pull its players.
- jak521

Not just Russians now... KHL expanded into Czech, Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine with plans to move into Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. NHL should be worried that one day soon the Stanley Cup might be irrelevant to young EU players.

HUGE victory for the KHL, and I wouldnt be surprised to see Bryz, and a few others heading over.

The presence of Russian players is the lowest its been in years... and it seems as though the KHL will continue to pull its players.
- jak521

As long as they keep xenophobic and anti-NHL league rules (Such as if you bring a player from the NHL, their cap hit does not count; You can only have 3 or 4 non Russian players on your team), there'll always be more Russians leaving for the KHL. Burmistrov, Kovalchuk, probably Bryz, and who else to come still? Is this 1 more reason the Flyers stray away from Russian talent?

It's still not as bad as the Pronger career ending injury for the Flyers. At least his cap hit comes off completely and they don't have to deal with LTIR bs.
- phillydentist

The Flyers were in a better position to deal with it. They can just spend their way out of trouble at times. Plus Pronger only had a couple great years left. Kovalchuk will be good for at least another 5-7 years.

This team is in TROUBLE. Say goodbye to Jersey. They couldn't get fans in the seats when they win, image what it will be like when they lose for the next 10 years. This is your new Seattle team.
- youarewrong

This is something they really, really have to worry about. I hate losing franchises with the kind of success they had, but... wow, Jeff Vanderbeek was broke already. Granted, he saves the Kovalchuk money, but he has to replace him on the ice, without being able to replace him in the marketing...

Though I think you're wrong on one point. This isn't Seattle. Realignment's easier if they're the Nordiques.

It's a good day for the NJD organization. $6.5M in cap space and $77M off the books. That contract will have been an albatross in a couple of years.
- phillydentist

Yes, wonderful day. All they lost was 2 first round picks, Bergfores, Odulya, Cormier, Parise, Clarkson...

Bet they wish that had that 9th overall back and took Nichushkin....

Not just Russians now... KHL expanded into Czech, Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine with plans to move into Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. NHL should be worried that one day soon the Stanley Cup might be irrelevant to young EU players.
- Tomahawk

Travel is rough over there...

crazy time.

As long as they keep xenophobic and anti-NHL league rules (Such as if you bring a player from the NHL, their cap hit does not count; You can only have 3 or 4 non Russian players on your team), there'll always be more Russians leaving for the KHL. Burmistrov, Kovalchuk, probably Bryz, and who else to come still? Is this 1 more reason the Flyers stray away from Russian talent?
- JAKEw1234

For sure. It's definitely a risk.

Yes, wonderful day. All they lost was 2 first round picks, Bergfores, Odulya, Cormier, Parise, Clarkson...

Bet they wish that had that 9th overall back and took Nichushkin....
- youarewrong

So he could buy the ticket for the seat next to Kovalchuk on their plane back home?

Yes, wonderful day. All they lost was 2 first round picks, Bergfores, Odulya, Cormier, Parise, Clarkson...

Bet they wish that had that 9th overall back and took Nichushkin....
- youarewrong

I'm not sure they would choose a Russian after this debacle.

I think teams are really going to shy away from giving Russian players long term deals. This could have been a disaster cap wise for NJ if Kovalchuk waited another five years to do this.

Travel is rough over there...
- flyguy12

Lol, but at least they won't have some asshat in a plaid suit railing on them for not playing/acting like good Canadian boys.

This is something they really, really have to worry about. I hate losing franchises with the kind of success they had, but... wow, Jeff Vanderbeek was broke already. Granted, he saves the Kovalchuk money, but he has to replace him on the ice, without being able to replace him in the marketing...

Though I think you're wrong on one point. This isn't Seattle. Realignment's easier if they're the Nordiques.
- dilbert719

Maybe not, if they move to Seattle then both conferences have 15 teams. Seems more even, actually.

You'd be surprised. Russians don't care as much about those things as we do. He must have had an amazing experience during the NHL lockout. He probably longed to return ever since.
- PhillySportsGuy

And, as I recall, Kovy waited until the last possible minute to come back over to the US to play, too.

It's a good day for the NJD organization. $6.5M in cap space and $77M off the books. That contract will have been an albatross in a couple of years.
- phillydentist

Hurts them short term next 2 years or so, but I think you may be correct going forward.

Lol, but at least they won't have some asshat in a plaid suit railing on them for not playing/acting like good Canadian boys.
- Tomahawk

I'll take the canadian tongue lashing over constant turbulence. I hate flying.

I'm not sure they would choose a Russian after this debacle.

I think teams are really going to shy away from giving Russian players long term deals. This could have been a disaster cap wise for NJ if Kovalchuk waited another five years to do this.
- PhillySportsGuy

I know this now gives some cap space for Lou to play with, but the thing is, he's now got a huge hole to fill on a team that, frankly, you wonder if they were gonna make the playoffs with Kovy.