[News] Ilya Kovalchuk retiring

[sa226]

Isn't the KHL just basically a hobby for the rich Russian owners? I doubt if they care if its sustainable as a business. I doubt if they care if its even a business.

They probably take great pride in luring a star like Kovalchuk away from the NHL and are more than willing to pay through the nose to do so.

Much like drinking beer for me is hardly sustainable and it sure isn't a business, but I take great pleasure in doing so. As long as I keep my job, I can finance my beer drinking. If these Russians keep their other business ventures, they can still keep their hockey teams.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Smart. At 33 he should still find a sucker willing to sign him to an eight-year contract.

Would be surprised if its that long...maybe even after 1 season, at most 2. Had a taste for being at home for the lockout, the pressure from friends and the rich Russian "entrepreneurs" and others to stick over there....toss in the the Olympics there in 9 months as part of that and moving back makes sense. Tied to NJ for another long stretch wouldn't have allowed that, and I am sure Lou helped him and his agent along, given the not 100% commitment seemingly Kovalchuk had...get the move over with now and save NJ some cash penalties.

Get settled for his retirement over there as far as family goes, make and maintain those "business connections" that he will need to be a part of post retirement, then come back for a 2-4 year last stint in the NHL to make some more stable cash.

That's the "nice" story for going back....though you do have to hope that he or his family are not part of some sort of blackmailing scheme, forcing him to go back now for a period of time, but in modern day Russia (P. Bure had his issues in that regard, surprised that info even ever got out), so you never ever know.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You're missing the point, Wilder. The purpose of the KHL is not to be profitable. The league has a hard salary cap of about $36 million per team, but there are all kinds of ways around it. Most significantly, the clause allowing each team to poach a player eligible for the Russian national team from the NHL. Nevermind the under-the-table payments. The seven worst NHL teams by attendance in 2011-12 matched the entire KHL last season. The league doesn't release much in the way of financials, but there is no way it is remotely close to profitable.

I can understand that the Russian teams in the KHL are owned by billionaires who don't care about pouring millions into their teams. But where are the other suckers in Europe coming from? And now talk of expanding into Asia?

Like I said, I'm curious about how much they're getting for an expansion franchise. Either it's a big ponzi scheme or they're hoping to one day be the dominant hockey league in the world by dominating markets in Europe and Asia. They're spending now in the hopes of making big money down the road.

If there are owners like that over there why aren't there more owners like that here in North America? Or maybe they aren't just throwing money away. Billionaires generally didn't become billionaires by being fools.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I can understand that the Russian teams in the KHL are owned by billionaires who don't care about pouring millions into their teams. But where are the other suckers in Europe coming from? And now talk of expanding into Asia?

Like I said, I'm curious about how much they're getting for an expansion franchise. Either it's a big ponzi scheme or they're hoping to one day be the dominant hockey league in the world by dominating markets in Europe and Asia. They're spending now in the hopes of making big money down the road.

If there are owners like that over there why aren't there more owners like that here in North America? Or maybe they aren't just throwing money away. Billionaires generally didn't become billionaires by being fools.

My conspiracy theory is that Putin has ordered the Billionaires to underwrite the KHL. If they don't they will quickly become unbillionaires. Most of these billionaires were built of of bribing the right people as the soviet union fell so now having to spend some of that money for Russian pride my just be a cost of doing business in russia.

[Vulcan]

So far so good for the Dallas Stars. Nichushkin attended their rookie camp and signed and entry level contract.

http://www.hotboxsports.com/NHL/article/24372

Still they need to keep him happy.

[jonesy]

guess he signed in KHL already. 4 years, no terms disclosed. St. Petersburg.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

So far so good for the Dallas Stars. Nichushkin attended their rookie camp and signed and entry level contract.

http://www.hotboxsports.com/NHL/article/24372

Still they need to keep him happy.

I thought Nichuskin is signed for KHL team for 2 more years that's why some teams are staying from him on the draft? Hmmm.. strange.

As for Ilya.. good riddance to a lazy millionaire. Lots of skills except work ethics.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by jonesy

guess he signed in KHL already. 4 years, no terms disclosed. St. Petersburg.

In the NHL, I think his $77 million is fairly guaranteed.

Although he thinks he can recoup that and a lot more in Russia, I suspect if he's ever injured to the point he can't play anymore, he'll never see the rest of his money. The word "guarantee" doesn't really apply in Putin's Russia.

He's taking a huge risk with that cash.

Cowperson

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I thought Nichuskin is signed for KHL team for 2 more years that's why some teams are staying from him on the draft? Hmmm.. strange.

As for Ilya.. good riddance to a lazy millionaire. Lots of skills except work ethics.

His KHL team let him out of the contract so that he could follow his dream. The only stipulation is that he either has to play for his NHL team (in this case Dallas), or he has to return to Russia to play for his KHL team.

The KHL doesn't have transfer agreement with the NHL, but in this case, the KHL team and player worked out something on the side.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

As a Devils fan

I really question this.

When the Devils were winning/having success they always had one monster line. It is true that they did have contribution from all 4 lines, they always had one big line.

Arnott, Elias, Sykora?

Gomez, Gionta, Elias?

Parise, Zajac, Langenbrunner?

[nik-]

Best kept secret in the world.

http://en.khl.ru/news/2013/7/15/25186.html

[valo403]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I can understand that the Russian teams in the KHL are owned by billionaires who don't care about pouring millions into their teams. But where are the other suckers in Europe coming from? And now talk of expanding into Asia?

Like I said, I'm curious about how much they're getting for an expansion franchise. Either it's a big ponzi scheme or they're hoping to one day be the dominant hockey league in the world by dominating markets in Europe and Asia. They're spending now in the hopes of making big money down the road.

If there are owners like that over there why aren't there more owners like that here in North America? Or maybe they aren't just throwing money away. Billionaires generally didn't become billionaires by being fools.

Because a communist state didn't break up in North America 20 years ago and assign all of its assets to a select group of insiders who now run a nation rich in resources like their own personal fiefdom.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

If there are owners like that over there why aren't there more owners like that here in North America? Or maybe they aren't just throwing money away. Billionaires generally didn't become billionaires by being fools.

In the 90s I'd argue that there were a lot of owners like that in North America. That sort of reckless spending is what led to the economic collapse.

Knowing what we know now about the revenue of teams like St. Louis, Dallas, Colorado, etc. it seems ludicrous how they were spending as much money as they were back then on player salaries.

[bc-chris]

not sure if already mentioned, but on global's noon news today the sports guy said it was a 4 year deal worth $15-20 million per season!!

that's some crazy money!

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

His KHL team let him out of the contract so that he could follow his dream. The only stipulation is that he either has to play for his NHL team (in this case Dallas), or he has to return to Russia to play for his KHL team.

The KHL doesn't have transfer agreement with the NHL, but in this case, the KHL team and player worked out something on the side.

Wow i guess Dallas personnel figured there is a loopholes on his KHL contract. Good on them.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Wow i guess Dallas personnel figured there is a loopholes on his KHL contract. Good on them.

He made it publicly known that he wanted to play in the NHL, if he didn't make the NHL he is going back to the KHL (no AHL). People are just worried that he may bolt back to the KHL at some point.

Not really hard detective work by Dallas.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Wow i guess Dallas personnel figured there is a loopholes on his KHL contract. Good on them.

I heard them talk about this at the draft. I think this news came out before the draft.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Wow i guess Dallas personnel figured there is a loopholes on his KHL contract. Good on them.

This was common knowledge. Not like Stars got a scoop or anything.

Even with that info, the Russian flight risk is still there

[FlamesAndBruins]

Kovalchuk is most criticised for not honouring his contract with the Devils, who expected him to be in their line-up next year, saying Kovalchuk made a commitment to the team for 15 years. But many North Americans conveniently ignore that the Devils signed this deal in bad faith, too. They never wanted him to play out his contract, it was just 15 years (originally 17) for cap circumvention. They wanted Kovy, from day one of the contract, to do just what he did now one day. Well, he did it a few years before they would have preferred. That's the risk of signing a contract where both parties know it's in bad faith. If this was a normal contract, I'd agree that Kovalchuk should play it out, but if both parties know when signing the contract that at some point the player will leave- Why should it be the team that decides upon that point in time? Kovalchuk shouldn't have announced is post draft and Free agency, but word is that Lameriello knew it a while ago. I also disagree that the Devils lost the first round pick because of Kovy. They lost it because they tried to sign him to a stupid contract. I doubt Kovalchuk was pushing for the 17yr cap circumvention. That's on the team.


The second reason why I don't get the outrage is that the breaking of a contract is a usual practice by players going to the NHL. Carl Söderberg wanted to go to Boston, so his team was basically forced to let him go and terminate his contract, just like Kovalchuk and the Devils just did. It might not be a big fish for NHL fans, but he was the leading goal scorer of the swedish league and a big loss for his club. Evgeni Malkin literally defected from Russia, after the iron curtain was long lifted, to not play out the last year of his contract. No one in North America was calling him a dishonourable guy or lost respect for him. That's hypocritical.

The counter-argument that I hear most often when bringing up my last point is that these situations are, according to many, different because these players go to the best league in the world. Well... so what? Does that make their contract any less valid? It doesn't. Just bolting from one league to another will always be possible when there's no player transfer agreement (PTA) between leagues. The NHL kind of makes their own problem here. If there was a functioning PTA between the KHL and NHL, the Devils could either stop Kovy from playing for SKA St. Petersburg or let him go and negotiate a (in Kovy's case probably massive, $25m+) transfer fee. But the NHL doesn't want an agreement like that, because it would be harder to get draft picks from europe over. At the moment, finnish and swedish teams get merely about $250k for a player that goes over. The KHL doesn't want to get ripped of like that for the players they produced, and instead want all transfer fees to be negotiated individually. That would stop situations like Kovalgate from happening, but would also mean that for example Valerie Nichushkin's club, having him under contract initially til 2015, could demand probably well over a million bucks to release him. So clearly, the NHL is having none of that.

Many say that they'd rather play in the best league rather than at home for more money. I don't want to call anyone dishonest, but that's an easy thing to say for all North Americans who aren't actually in that situation. Look at Landon Donavan. He tried to go to europe, couldn't hack it in the German Bundesliga for Leverkusen or Bayern Munich, but was decent in the english premiership for Everton. He went back to play at home. I'm sure from watching him at world cups and his stints in europe that he could probably be a contributor in the weaker dutch or portugese first divisions, and surely in England's or Germany's 2nd divisions who are still arguably more quality leagues than MLS. He makes a lot more money in MLS though and is the face of a young, aspiring league. That's literally the same thing that Kovy is doing, yet Donavan isn't widely called a quitter, loser, or whatever is being thrown at Kovalchuk at the moment. Sure, Clint Dempsey, who made it in England at Fulham is more highly regarded among football fans, but there just isn't the contempt that's there regarding Kovalchuk.

Europeans are used to the fact that there's multiple leagues players play in I guess, but it's baffling to me that so many North Americans struggle with the concept. Many seem even offended (!) that a player chooses not to play in their league. That just seems a little insecure to me.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

not sure if already mentioned, but on global's noon news today the sports guy said it was a 4 year deal worth $15-20 million per season!!

that's some crazy money!

Also http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/624108

Article saying he plans on returning to the NHL in 3 years.