Ruling re. Kovalchuk

[JiriHrdina]

Folks,
The league has ruled that Ilya Kovalchuk is retired from the CPHL.
On the surface this seems like a complicated situation - however when we simply look at our stated rule, it is black and white:

A player is deemed retired when its listed via the NHL.com site or when articles in any newspaper state the player quoting the same. Any player who has played in Europe for 3 years or more as shown on hockeydB is retired and must be bought out.


Unfortunately for CBJ - the use of the word retirement both on NHL.com and across reputable sources makes this a pretty easy ruling.

We also would look back to a similar situation with Palffy where he retired from the NHL - but played in Europe. He too was deemed no longer ineligible for CPHL duty.

[Slava]

I feel bad for CBJ, but I think that this is the right ruling for the league. Good job making what was undoubtedly a difficult decision.

[TurdFerguson]

Rough break for sure, on something that really seemed to come out of nowhere.

[devo22]

tough break for the Jackets. No one could have seen this coming.

[silentsim]

Tough decision.
Now that this odd scenario is over- will the rule be changed to retired from HOCKEY or shall it be kept to retire from NHL? (not a grandfathered rule however)

I sense that over the years there will be more players (both high and low profile) that leave the NHL for KHL, wether they retire out of the NHL to void the contract is unknown.

[dsavillian]

Thanking the post only because you justified the decision, not because I like that the player was retired from the CPHL.

Tough call, but rules are rules.

[TurdFerguson]

Originally Posted by silentsim

Tough decision.
Now that this odd scenario is over- will the rule be changed to retired from HOCKEY or shall it be kept to retire from NHL?

I sense that over the years there will be more players (both high and low profile) that leave the NHL for KHL, wether they retire out of the NHL to void the contract is unknown.

That is an interesting point. I think its a scenario that becomes more common, although more of the "I choose to not re-sign in the NHL", as opposed to "i retire". That said, the ratings system only really takes NHL in to account, so i would think that would continue to be the case...if not, that's a pretty big change in the make up of the game.

[MJK]

Consider this an official appeal of the Columbus Blue Jacket – Regarding Mr. Ilya Kovalchuk

The Columbus Blue Jackets do not agree with this decision and believe the CPHL rules are simply outdated and need to be changed. An easy fix here and one that makes sense is to simply change the word ‘NHL’ with ‘hockey’. Contrary to what Grant has said, this is a unique situation. Kovalchuk is 30 years old and will be continuing his career in the KHL. He will also play in the Olympics and much like Jagr, WILL be back in the NHL someday. He simply used the word “retiring from the NHL” to get out of his NHL contract, it’s as simple as that.

As the GM of the Jackets and a dedicated GM who puts countless hours into his team, I am pretty shocked that I wasn’t even invited to be a part of this conversation.

Kovalchuk has 1 year left on his contract in the CPHL, do the right thing, change the wording in the rules, let him play 1 year and then he is a UFA. No one will sign him and then he is done. The Jackets are still punished becaused they only get 1 year out of Kovalchuk.

Please consider my appeal and get back to me by today, Friday July 12, 2013 @ 4:00MST

[TurdFerguson]

While I agree with the leagues decision I also would have no issue with Kovi being able to play out his current CPHL contract, provided he signs in the KHL before the start of the CPHL season. It is certainly an exception to a clear rule...but I would be OK with that, in this instance, which I believe is a special situation.

For whatever it's worth...

[Knut]

Interesting situation.

If Kovalchuk was a UFA and signed in the KHL he would still be eligible. Because he has a contract to get out of he had to "retire".

Not sure we should punish a GM because there is a lack of a proper KHL - NHL agreement.


However, rules are rules and I support any decision made.

[Swayze11]

A few points from my point of view.

I bet there is a ton of players in the CPHL right now who have submitted NHL retirement papers. This is a unique situation and because we are dealing with a star player, everyone knew he submitted his papers. For all we know, Radulov submitted his papers but nobody has knowledge of it.

NHL rules state: If a player submits his retirement papers in the NHL and wants to come back, it needs to be approved by all 30 NHL teams. With this in mind, I highly doubt he ever comes back to the NHL - without question a team will say no. Bill Daley also said because of the unique situation, if he wants to come back.. NJ holds his rights. A team in NJ's division would say no without question. He is not coming back.

Another rumor out there is his KHL contract never expired and has yet to expire. A weird contract where it was "Go play wherever you want, but if you ever want to come back you can play here". This rumor is not confirmed but if that is the case, he should still be in the CPHL.

[Da_Chief]

I disagree with this ruling.

Just because the player retied from the NHL shouldn't mean he's retired from the CPHL.

For example Andrei Kostitsyn left the NHL last year (the odds of Ilya coming back are far higher then him getting another chance) but he was part of Islanders championship team. He was allowed to play.

The rule needs to say hockey and Ilya should be allowed to play for 3 years in the CPHl with obvious rating hits since the CPHL is based on NHL play.

[dsavillian]

I think if the rule has been enforced in the past in a similar situation, then it should be enforced in this situation.

Changing the rule is a different story.

Now, since there's no way for anyone to walk away from a CPHL contract, this rule makes sense and adds that little bit of risk to players that are a KHL risk. Do we like that?

[silentsim]

Originally Posted by dsavillian

I think if the rule has been enforced in the past in a similar situation, then it should be enforced in this situation.

This is true- had no idea there was another incident of this.

The question is- is hockey vs NHL outdated in terms of retiring

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by MJK

Consider this an official appeal of the Columbus Blue Jacket – Regarding Mr. Ilya Kovalchuk

The Columbus Blue Jackets do not agree with this decision and believe the CPHL rules are simply outdated and need to be changed. An easy fix here and one that makes sense is to simply change the word ‘NHL’ with ‘hockey’. Contrary to what Grant has said, this is a unique situation. Kovalchuk is 30 years old and will be continuing his career in the KHL. He will also play in the Olympics and much like Jagr, WILL be back in the NHL someday. He simply used the word “retiring from the NHL” to get out of his NHL contract, it’s as simple as that.

As the GM of the Jackets and a dedicated GM who puts countless hours into his team, I am pretty shocked that I wasn’t even invited to be a part of this conversation.

Kovalchuk has 1 year left on his contract in the CPHL, do the right thing, change the wording in the rules, let him play 1 year and then he is a UFA. No one will sign him and then he is done. The Jackets are still punished becaused they only get 1 year out of Kovalchuk.

Please consider my appeal and get back to me by today, Friday July 12, 2013 @ 4:00MST

Look - I'm happy to consider the appeal but we will get back to you when we are ready. I'm at work. I have a family. I don't appreciate you mandating a 4 PM deadline. Frankly that pisses me off.

We will get back to you when we are ready and no sooner.

[MJK]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Look - I'm happy to consider the appeal but we will get back to you when we are ready. I'm at work. I have a family. I don't appreciate you mandating a 4 PM deadline. Frankly that pisses me off.

We will get back to you when we are ready and no sooner.

In the buisness world when submitting an appeal there is a timeline attached to it. You took less than a day to make your inital decision so I thought the same time would suffice for the appeal. That is all.

Sorry it pissed you off. Take all the time you need.

[mbeauchamp76]

I would say let him play on the basis that he is continuing to play hockey in Europe. Other players are given 3 years in Europe before they are removed from the CPHL. I like the idea of retiring from professional hockey rather than NHL. This problem of players foregoing their contracts in the NHL to take off to the KHL could get worse. The word retirement is cut and dry however this situation is not cut and dry as it seems. Joe nailed it when he brought up Kostistyn. The only reason he didn't retire because he was a free agent which allowed him to stay on. Obviously I would be crazy to resign him as a RFA but would he still be available as a UFA on a cheap short term contract? Figure his ratings will still be above 60. Regardless the leagues decision will set a precedent and will have a significant impact on GMs decisions.

[MJK]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

We also would look back to a similar situation with Palffy where he retired from the NHL - but played in Europe. He too was deemed no longer ineligible for CPHL duty.

Hello, just to follow up the difference between Palffy and Kovalchuk is as follows:

Palffy retired from hockey with no intention of resuming play because of an injury. Looking at his retirement arcitles, he was done and even withdrew from the national team.

Kovalchuk, on the other hand, is retiring from the NHL and will sign with a KHL team anyday now. He also has already said he looks forward to playing in the Olympics and in order to do that you have to be playing hockey somewhere.

Is it not the same situation at all.

Please keep this in mind while you consider my appeal.

Thanks.

[Hanna Sniper]

Not really surprised

When I had the league retire Kenny Jonsson on me when he decided his head was too soft for the NHL. He was my No .1 defensmen at the time and didn't retire from hockey... but like here from the NHL

Really sucks for the Jackets, while my hit at the time wasn't as hard but he was a top D in out league... but I'll be honest with you, I didn't get any sympathy from anyone and looking back I don't think the league made the wrong decision. Jagr was retired as well when he jumped

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MJK

Kovalchuk, on the other hand, is retiring from the NHL and will sign with a KHL team anyday now. He also has already said he looks forward to playing in the Olympics and in order to do that you have to be playing hockey somewhere.

Just out of curiousity, (and by no means am I involved in the decision making), how long should we wait to see what he does? Not only in this case, but after every "retirement", in case they get roped into signing elsewhere?