[Rumour] Kovalchuk returning to the NHL???

[Cycling76er]

I thought on top of the permission from GMs there was also a 1 year period where he could not play pro hockey before he could even get to the permissions stage? Pro being KHL included.

[Cycling76er]

Ilya Kovalchuk will be removed from the “voluntary retired list” upon reaching his 35th birthday on April 15, 2018, and thereby would become an unrestricted free agent if the winger were to pursue a return to the NHL for the 2018-19 season.

This is according to Bylaw 8.5 (c) and confirmed by deputy commissioner Bill Daly in a series of emails with The Post yesterday in which the NHL clarified Kovalchuk’s status after the Devils voided the remaining 12 years of his contract on Wednesday so he could continue his hockey career in the KHL.

Kovalchuk, who signed his retirement papers in conjunction with the nullification of the remainder of his 15-year, $100 million deal, is expected to sign a contract with the SKA St. Petersburg club for which he played during last season’s lockout.

He would not be able to return to the NHL without unanimous consent of the league’s member clubs before 2018-19 unless he were to sit out for at least one calendar year. If Kovalchuk were to sit that long within the next four years, he would then need the Devils’ permission to rejoin the NHL.

“It would require unanimous consent at any point at which the player tries to return to the League without having been out of professional hockey [anywhere in the world] for a full calendar year,” Daly wrote. “Once he sits out for a full calendar year, he can only come back with the Devils’ consent.”

Or he needs to sit 1 year then he would only need permission from the Devils instead of from all 30 GMs.

[lifetime_flamesfan]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

There's your answer.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And that was where I stopped caring.

I know I know, but hey even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by lifetime_flamesfan

I know I know, but hey even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.

Not in the winter...

[FlamingHomer]

I'm thinking unanimous consent won't be a slam dunk. If I can't be in the mix to acquire him I would say no just to make sure other teams don't get better. And not many teams owe him any favours either.

[Poe969]

If he isn't that good any more and a team is going to over pay for his services, I'd be all for him coming back.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Locke

Kovalchuk 'bailing' on that contract was the biggest favour he could do for Lou.

That contract was HORRIBLE. I think if you asked him Lou would trade a draft pick to to get out of that contract 11 times out of 10.

Right - and to add to that, Lou didn't even want to sign Kovalchuk to that deal. Why did he? The owner wanted to sell the team to a Russian Business man who owns the Nets.

http://www.businessinsider.com/did-t...y-them-2010-12

[Gaudfather]

He would be a cancer in the dressing room - not sure why and team would want to attract that!

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

He would be a cancer in the dressing room - not sure why and team would want to attract that!

I never heard that we was a cancer before. A distraction, yes. I'm wondering if he started his 'year off' today, if he would be eligible to be under the four years/Devil's part of the contract. I could see him signing a one or two year contract with the Devils, but never get the permission of the entire league to return.

[Gaudfather]

By cancer I mean willing to expend effort that matches only about 50% of your talent level. Its his I'll play hard when I feel like it attitude.

[Pointman]

I haven'r watched him much this season, but by every russian account he's been bad. He was healthy scratch in playoff games #2 and #3 after being -2 in 2-3 loss in game 1. His team won those two games without him. Most observers say his scratch was warranted for purely on-ice performance reasons. His coach is former NHL star Sergey Zubov, btw.

[codynw]

Aivis Kalniņš‏ @A_Kalnins
Kovalchuk has told SKA that if he's not on roster in two days time he's terminating his contract and heading to North America.

What a ######bag.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by codynw

Aivis Kalniņš‏ @A_Kalnins
Kovalchuk has told SKA that if he's not on roster in two days time he's terminating his contract and heading to North America.

What a ######bag.

And I'm guessing there was an ensuing dance for joy that they no longer have to pay him.

Hes getting paid a fortune and hes evidently playing like crap. Sounds like the prototypical Oiler to me. Get 'er done Chia!

[BurningSteel]

Kovalchuk. The best player not in the NHL. Toronto's answer to the Stamkos riddle.

[renny]

Originally Posted by codynw

Aivis Kalniņš‏ @A_Kalnins
Kovalchuk has told SKA that if he's not on roster in two days time he's terminating his contract and heading to North America.

What a ######bag.

Kovalchuk quits the NHL cause he "misses home" after signing a massive contract, runs to the KHL. Kovalchuk quits the KHL after signing a massive contract trying to run to the NHL.

Hey Kovy, you made a choice, now you have to live with it, F-you very much!

[Coach]

Someone will take him here. I hope it cripples them forever and he proves to be exactly what he sounds like; a twit.

[CroFlames]

Top 3 scorer is rich hahaha.