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Реклама в Интернет * Все Кулички |
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12 июля 2013 года. Ilya see ya later // New York Daily News Dell, Chris. The hockey world was stunned Thursday afternoon when Ilya Kovalchuk announced his retirement. Miffed would be a better word to describe Lou Lamoriello. The Devils GM and president couldn't disguise his displeasure on a conference call hours after the Russian forward not only left 12 years and $77 million, including guaranteed salaries of $11 million over the next four seasons, on the table, but also left the Devils team high and dry. "I don't take any (positives) out of today," Lamoriello said. "Remember, this wasn't a decision by the New Jersey Devils." NBC analyst Jeremy Roenick certainly didn't hide his dislike for Kovalchuk's move, firing off several tweets, including this gem: "Hey Ilya hope u live comfortably in Russia w the money u made from the 23 million u stole from the devils." Kovalchuk said he wanted to return to Russian to be with his family after an 11-year NHL career. This just four years after inking a 15-year, $100 million deal with Jersey. It is believed he will return to SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL where he played during the lockout. "This decision was something I have thought about for a long time going back to the lockout and spending the year in Russia," Kovalchuk, 30, said in a statement released by the team. "Though I decided to return this past season, Lou was aware of my desire to go back home and have my family there with me. The most difficult thing for me is to leave the New Jersey Devils, a great organization that I have a lot of respect for, and our fans that have been great to me." Although Kovalchuck's sudden retirement was shocking, conspiracy theorists can look back to Sept. 28 for clues. That's when Kovalchuk inked a temporary deal to play for SKA Saint Petersburg and subsequently drew ire from the NHL when he didn't immediately return to the U.S. following the end of the league's lockout. Instead, the three-time NHL All-Star decided to partake in the KHL All-Star Game. "Obviously, it's difficult to say anything," Lamoriello lamented. "Right now we just have to take a step back to go forward." Lamoriello wouldn't disclose any details from his conversation with Kovalchuk, but he did shoot down the notion that the Devils were now in a "significant hole." "If there's something we can do, we will do it. Obviously there's more (salary cap) room right now," he said. The Devils will be slapped with a $250,000 yearly fee against the NHL's salary cap each season through 2025, in accordance with the league's CBA. Kovalchuk was a dominating force during his 11 years in the NHL with the Devils and Atlanta Thrashers. The former No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft the first Russian drafted first overall |
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