Flyers retire from NHL to join KHL.
Weber decides to retire from NHL, signs contract with KHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers return to NHL.
Bruno Gervais contracts chlamydia
Flyers win Cup
- jmatchett383

Sounds legit.

it was bryz and pronger holding the cup

you guys should check out a thing called Internet Explorer
- Crimsoninja

Blows.

Lots of different angles to this thing. I'm sure the financial issues the Devils have, play a role here. But a precendent is set. How can the NHL stop another player from doing the same thing now?
- MJL

Personally the timing to this as well as how easily the Devils are allowing this to happen tells me the Devils wanted out of the contract and the fact is, by having it happen after free agency gives the Devils as pass with their fan base on not spending beyond the ridiculous Clowe deal. Afterall, all of the high priced UFA's are gone.

Personally the timing to this as well as how easily the Devils are allowing this to happen tells me the Devils wanted out of the contract and the fact is, by having it happen after free agency gives the Devils as pass with their fan base on not spending beyond the ridiculous Clowe deal. Afterall, all of the high priced UFA's are gone.
- nastyflyergirl

What fan base?

Ilya clearly didn't retire. He was traded to another league for nothing. That is clearly cap circumvention.

it was bryz and pronger holding the cup

you guys should check out a thing called Internet Explorer
- Crimsoninja

What the (frank) is the internet?

Ilya clearly didn't retire. He was traded to another league for nothing. That is clearly cap circumvention.
- jstross

I don't even think the KHL wants him. He will be bagging groceries in mother Russia next year.

NJ was 3rd worst last year in goals scored. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they haven't done anything to improve that fact and Kovi "retiring" might send them to the bottom in total goals for next season.

NJ was 3rd worst last year in goals scored. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they haven't done anything to improve that fact and Kovi "retiring" might send them to the bottom in total goals for next season.
- wolfhounds

If I were a Devils fan I would be kinda annoyed that my team kept their #1 pick, 29th overall, in 2012 at this point.

Ilya clearly didn't retire. He was traded to another league for nothing. That is clearly cap circumvention.
- jstross

MJL or someone else, do teams have the ablity to submit a grevance to the NHL or will they look at it themselves?

Ilya clearly didn't retire. He was traded to another league for nothing. That is clearly cap circumvention.
- jstross

Definitely a sham to call it a retirement. But there are loopholes in every CBA. But with this one, the League may be happy about it, in this particular case. The problem may come down the road, when other players try and do the same thing.

NJ was 3rd worst last year in goals scored. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they haven't done anything to improve that fact and Kovi "retiring" might send them to the bottom in total goals for next season.
- wolfhounds

I see a Vanek to NJ trade coming, and probably at least one more FA signing.

If I were a Devils fan I would be kinda annoyed that my team kept their #1 pick, 29th overall, in 2012 at this point.
- nastyflyergirl

If I were a Devils fan, I'd be annoyed that my team plays in Newark, NJ.

But I digress.

I'm sure if Lou really knew what Kovalchuk was up to at the time they had to forfeit a #1 draft pick, surely he would have given that one up.

Kovalchuk put the team in a bind, for sure. The fact is, there are no rules governing that sort of thing and frankly, I doubt Lou was, in any way, complicit.

MJL or someone else, do teams have the ablity to submit a grevance to the NHL or will they look at it themselves?
- FlyersFirst

Not sure in this case. The issue is that I don't think the Devils or the NHL is unhappy about it.

I know that draft is really crapshoot, but wouldn't make more sense to get somebody who has already some pedigree: Ryan Pullock who is scoring defencemen (14g, 45p in 61 games last year and had his shot register at 101mph) or Nikita Zadorov who is huge but skates so well for a big man ...just saying

Definitely a sham to call it a retirement. But there are loopholes in every CBA. But with this one, the League may be happy about it. In this particular case. The problem may come down the road. When other players try and do the same thing.
- MJL

I think teams who used compliance buy outs, only to see this happen, are probably a little ticked off right now.

Snider will lose it if Bryz signs for a russian league team now, since he's got a duffle bag full of his money, if he could have just "retired" .

I know that draft is really crapshoot, but wouldn't make more sense to get somebody who has already some pedigree: Ryan Pullock who is scoring defencemen (14g, 45p in 61 games last year and had his shot register at 101mph) or Nikita Zverev who is huge but skates so well for a big man ...just saying
- SGTrader

Morin reportedly skates very well for a big man.

I think teams who used compliance buy outs, only to see this happen, are probably a little ticked off right now.

Snider will lose it if Bryz signs for a russian league team now, since he's got a duffle bag full of his money, if he could have just "retired" .
- the deaninator

The difference is the player has to be willing to walk away from the money. Was Bryzgalov willing to do that?

The difference is the player has to be willing to walk away from the money. Was Bryzgalov willing to do that?
- MJL

Why walk away from money when you can blast off with a ship load.

Definitely a sham to call it a retirement. But there are loopholes in every CBA. But with this one, the League may be happy about it. In this particular case. The problem may come down the road. When other players try and do the same thing.
- MJL

I think this did set a precedent, but I do wonder how many players (especially, North American players) would walk away from their contracts in North America to go play in a league that many have criticized as 2nd rate in every way (except for $$), where they wouldn't know the language.

I do see where Bobby Sanguinetti signed on with the KHL yesterday, but he was not offered a contract by Carolina and probably views the KHL as an opportunity to make some money and develop his game.

I think you may see more of what Bobby Sanguinetti did than what Kovalchuk did (i.e.--walk away from a pile of money).

I think this did set a precedent, but I do wonder how many players (especially, North American players) would walk away from their contracts in North America to go play in a league that many have criticized as 2nd rate in every way (except for $$), where they wouldn't know the language.

I do see where Bobby Sanguinetti signed on with the KHL yesterday, but he was not offered a contract by Carolina and probably views the KHL as an opportunity to make some money and develop his game.

I think you may see more of what Bobby Sanguinetti did than what Kovalchuk did (i.e.--walk away from a pile of money).
- johndewar

Maybe. But what about players who are signed to 4 year deals, that aren't making a ton of money. And get a better offer from the KHL? Just retire and take the better offer!

The difference is the player has to be willing to walk away from the money. Was Bryzgalov willing to do that?
- MJL

I still can't wrap my mind around walking away from 77 million.

8 days until Weber becomes a Flyer.

I know that draft is really crapshoot, but wouldn't make more sense to get somebody who has already some pedigree: Ryan Pullock who is scoring defencemen (14g, 45p in 61 games last year and had his shot register at 101mph) or Nikita Zverev who is huge but skates so well for a big man ...just saying
- SGTrader

Good idea. I am all for drafting Russians. What could go wrong?

I still can't wrap my mind around walking away from 77 million.
- the deaninator

I hear you. But he's really not. He's going to make more in the KHL. When I first heard it, I thought he was actually retiring. As in quitting Hockey altogether. Then I learned more about it.