Looks like he may be able to come back in 4 years. I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to the Rangers grabbing him for a few years at a reasonable rate, if he's still a decent player.
Nice try, but it looks like money played a huge role in this. He can make in 5yrs what would have taken him 12 in the US, and that's on a gross basis. Net, after taxes, will be much better. "According to SovSport, a Russian sports website, it would not be surprising if Kovalchuk makes between $15 million and $20 million a season, minus a 13 percent income tax. " "She (his mom) also said U.S. taxes, as well as an NHL escrow system, contributed to Kovalchuk's decision." http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/26025/report-kovy-could-make-20m-per-season
