It's probably the Devils' silly dress and grooming code that has worn out the players there.

Whereas, here we have:



- Flyskippy

Voracek's beard will score 15 goals next ALL BY ITSELF!

Rosehill is the new Shelley. He wasn;t going to play much anyhow. At least he's a lot cheaper.
- Jsaquella

Doesn't eat as much popcorn?

It's probably the Devils' silly dress and grooming code that has worn out the players there.

Whereas, here we have:



- Flyskippy

Ginger trio for life!

Duck Dynasty up in this piece
- Jsaquella

They need to get under the cap prior to the season...if they can get anyone to take Meszaros' deal, I'd be amazed if he's not moved.
- Jsaquella

Devils have PLENTY of room

Doesn't eat as much popcorn?
- Flyskippy

That, and he gets paid half a million less than Jody did

Duck Dynasty up in this piece
- Jsaquella

Question fellas, is it possible for Kovalchuck to play a year in the KHL and than return to the NHL next year as a FA? I think I read somewhere that the Devils are not tolling his contract.

There is speculation that Devils couldn't afford to buy Kovy out next year thus why he retired. Though why would he retire and leave all that amnesty money on the table.

Anthony SanFilippo ‏@AnthonySan37 7m

. @jsaquella @capgeek I think Raffl was going to make the #Flyers regardless the length of his contract. I was told he compares to Brunner.

Interesting.
- Jsaquella

I'm gonna assume nothing. For all we know Damien Brunner could turn out to be a huge bust in his second season in the NHL if he manages to get a big pay out for a guy who only played half a season.

Question fellas, is it possible for Kovalchuck to play a year in the KHL and than return to the NHL next year as a FA? I think I read somewhere that the Devils are not tolling his contract.

There is speculation that Devils couldn't afford to buy Kovy out next year thus why he retired. Though why would he retire and leave all that amnesty money on the table.
- Pat MaGroin

Not sure, but Sheriff Bettman needs to bring the hammer down on the Devils if he went back there as a FA.

And I wouldn't worry about Kovy leaving money anywhere. Kovy is going to get, like, a gozillion dollars and possibly his own natural gas fields playing in Russia. The KHL pays very well to it's top players and he will be the marquee guy in that league now.

Not sure, but Sheriff Bettman needs to bring the hammer down on the Devils if he went back there as a FA.

And I wouldn't worry about Kovy leaving money anywhere. Kovy is going to get, like, a gozillion dollars and possibly his own natural gas fields playing in Russia. The KHL pays very well to it's top players and he will be the marquee guy in that league now.
- johndewar

Such an unusual occurrence, was curious how different circumstances could unfold. I know Lou was never a proponent of his contract. Also there is so much chatter about the Devils bleeding money that they actually are glad he retired.

They need to get under the cap prior to the season...if they can get anyone to take Meszaros' deal, I'd be amazed if he's not moved.
- Jsaquella

I've asked this several times and apologize if I missed the answer. What defines, "the beginning of the season"? Training camp, pre-season games or regular season games?

Such an unusual occurrence, was curious how different circumstances could unfold. I know Lou was never a proponent of his contract. Also there is so much chatter about the Devils bleeding money that they actually are glad he retired.
- Pat MaGroin

Interesting to see within a year of the new CBA very unusual player transactions have occurred. The trading of Tim Thomas to help the Isles get to the floor and then not tolling his contract. The Preds "loaning" Kosistyn to the KHL. The retirement of Kovy.

Question fellas, is it possible for Kovalchuck to play a year in the KHL and than return to the NHL next year as a FA? I think I read somewhere that the Devils are not tolling his contract.

There is speculation that Devils couldn't afford to buy Kovy out next year thus why he retired. Though why would he retire and leave all that amnesty money on the table.
- Pat MaGroin

I imagine another penalty would be coming the Devils' way, if this is true.

- hereticpride

That show speaks volumes to the elevated intellect of society.

they'll get mcdavid in 2 years and be right back to killing us
- Crimsoninja

Yep.

Though in the immediate future, I'm really looking forward to Patrik Elias defying Father Time and hitting the NHL with a 40-45-85 season, including 18 GWG against the Flyers, with all of them being in the last two minutes of a game, and then saying at the end of the season, "Well, with Kovalchuk gone, I knew I had to step up."

That's going to be simply joyous.

Such an unusual occurrence, was curious how different circumstances could unfold. I know Lou was never a proponent of his contract. Also there is so much chatter about the Devils bleeding money that they actually are glad he retired.
- Pat MaGroin

I'm interested to see exactly how this impacts the Devils' money problems.

At first blush.....sure, the salary is off the books.

The flip side is their on ice product will likely be substandard such that their gate will be hurt (it's not as strong as you'd expect, really, considering the success of that franchise) and they could miss out on playoff gate revenue.

Yep.

Though in the immediate future, I'm really looking forward to Patrik Elias defying Father Time and hitting the NHL with a 40-45-85 season, including 18 GWG against the Flyers, with all of them being in the last two minutes of a game, and then saying at the end of the season, "Well, with Kovalchuk gone, I knew I had to step up."

That's going to be simply joyous.
- AllInForFlyers

Elias

I'm interested to see exactly how this impacts the Devils' money problems.

At first blush.....sure, the salary is off the books.

The flip side is their on ice product will likely be substandard such that their gate will be hurt (it's not as strong as you'd expect, really, considering the success of that franchise) and they could miss out on playoff gate revenue.
- johndewar

And I'm sure that since they've lost the star status of Kovy less people will come out to games. It'd be interesting if someone could find the number of season ticket cancellings that will occur in the immediate hours and days after Kovy's retirement; I bet the numbers are higher than usual.

Yep.

Though in the immediate future, I'm really looking forward to Patrik Elias defying Father Time and hitting the NHL with a 40-45-85 season, including 18 GWG against the Flyers, with all of them being in the last two minutes of a game, and then saying at the end of the season, "Well, with Kovalchuk gone, I knew I had to step up."

That's going to be simply joyous.
- AllInForFlyers

18 GWG in 6 games, seems legit

And I'm sure that since they've lost the star status of Kovy less people will come out to games. It'd be interesting if someone could find the number of season ticket cancellings that will occur in the immediate hours and days after Kovy's retirement; I bet the numbers are higher than usual.
- JAKEw1234

And let's be honest: it's easy for fans from division rivals to go into The Rock and get tickets at incredibly reasonable prices. So there's that, at least. Well.....that and the Devils' now sparkling capgeek entry, amirite??

But missing playoff gate receipts doesn't seem like a recipe to fix what ails that franchise, financially speaking.

I'm interested to see exactly how this impacts the Devils' money problems.

At first blush.....sure, the salary is off the books.

The flip side is their on ice product will likely be substandard such that their gate will be hurt (it's not as strong as you'd expect, really, considering the success of that franchise) and they could miss out on playoff gate revenue.
- johndewar

Yea this puts them behind the 8-ball for the short term . Really messed up thing is would they have been able to retain Parise if they knew kvie would pull this?

And let's be honest: it's easy for fans from division rivals to go into The Rock and get tickets at incredibly reasonable prices. So there's that, at least. Well.....that and the Devils' now sparkling capgeek entry, amirite??

But missing playoff gate receipts doesn't seem like a recipe to fix what ails that franchise, financially speaking.
- johndewar

Once they lose Uncle Daddy I'm sure Larsson and Henrique will really fill the seats.

I'm interested to see exactly how this impacts the Devils' money problems.

At first blush.....sure, the salary is off the books.

The flip side is their on ice product will likely be substandard such that their gate will be hurt (it's not as strong as you'd expect, really, considering the success of that franchise) and they could miss out on playoff gate revenue.
- johndewar

Keep in mind that the Devils have also lost David Clarkson and replaced him with Michael Ryder. To me this shows signs of desperation and weakness. They're safe in net with Cory Schneider and it all starts there, then you build out. However losing Ilya Kovalchuk and David Clarkson are huge losses up front.

Interesting to see within a year of the new CBA very unusual player transactions have occurred. The trading of Tim Thomas to help the Isles get to the floor and then not tolling his contract. The Preds "loaning" Kosistyn to the KHL. The retirement of Kovy.
- ravishingone

The Kostitsyn "arrangement" stinks. The Blackhawks did the same thing with Cristobal Huet, and he wanted to stay in the NHL. They told him if he didn't go, he was going to the minors. Those should absolutely count against the cap.

You know, I had been wondering what the Devils were doing this offseason, because at first blush, they had signed one too many LW, if they were thinking Stefan Matteau was a player.

Now it makes sense -- something kinda reeks about this whole deal, but at the same time, the Devils are losing their first-rounder and Kovalchuk's leaving $77 million on the table...guess it's a victimless crime, really.

But my opinion: If I were a GM, I simply couldn't recommend drafting a Russian player, in good conscience. I respect the skill, the ability, of any good player, and I have nothing against them as people.

But what has been asked of them is far different, and far more difficult, than the average person wants to acknowledge. They are well-compensated, surely. But at the same time, they are leaving their home country to go to a place where few speak their language, share their customs. When they do learn the language, they get to hear people like Mike Milbury and Don Cherry kill them for being Russian and not caring every time they lose in the playoffs.

It's tough. I don't know how well I'd do if I had to go work tomorrow in a country where I didn't speak the language but was expected to perform at a high level every day, despite that.