New Jersey Devils superstar winger Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to walk away from the final 12 years and $77 million remaining on his contract, choosing instead to retire from the NHL, the team announced Thursday. "This goes back to the lockout, and prior to coming back, his thought process of staying in Russia was there," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a conference call Thursday. "As you know, he was here a little late [getting back after the lockout was lifted]. Then there was no conversation whatsoever throughout the year about it. Then it resurfaced and his desire was to retire from the NHL, and the only way he could do that was to sign his voluntary retirement papers, which he did." According to multiple Russian media outlets, Kovalchuk will play for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League next season. Read more http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/9470677/ilya-kovalchuk-new-jersey-devils-announces-retire
the guy knew that he wasnt going anywhere fast with the Devils, may as well play home instead and make more money that he can in America
what a bitch.... he completely left the team and the fans in the lurch doing this after all the big names are gone... totally sucks
Makes me sick to my stomach still... http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/9478535/ilya-kovalchuk-inks-deal-ska-st-petersburg-russian-khl
