2013 NHL Off-Season Thread: Bluefan's Own Personal Crying Game!

[Izzy]

OHHHHHHHHHHHH shit lol

[Vaspinne]

Well that was... Unexpected to say the least

[Richybear]

Part of me wonders if it's to secure a spot in the Olympics by playing there for a year or something. But even then, who'd sign him for anything more than an NBA-esque 10 day deal if he wants to come back in 2014/15 season?
inb4 Charles Wang would offer him a 57 year deal

[isladar]

...what the hell, that was fucking unexpected

[Mazmaz]

I don't understand. A player can just retire and teams have to pay them anyway? Why doesn't everyone just retire?

[isladar]

shockingly professional hockey players enjoy playing hockey

[vagus]

Do they still have to pay? Do they still have to give up next years 1st round draft pick as penalty for the Kovalchuk deal?

[Palin]

Dan Rosen ‏@drosennhl 1m

Lamoriello says Kovalchuk's contract is now void. He has signed the appropriate paperwork.

Kovy couldn't play in another league if the Devils opted to keep his contract. Lou didn't. Kovy's going to the KHL.

Anyone who thinks the Devils weren't somewhat OK with this isn't looking at hte big picture. The cap-recapture pentalty for Kovy retiring now is a measly 300k. If he had played until real retirement age, it would have been in the $3.5 million range for another 6-7 years. This is a long-term gain for the Devils, but still pretty crazy.

[Richybear]

They can now afford to keep Clarkson and Parise!!
..... wait.

[Palin]

Devils better protest hard to get that first round pick back. Gonna be a dark year for them.

[Bregor]

WHY DON'T WE HAVE DEVILS FANS ON BG, I WANT TO LAUGH AT YOU

Hackey would be so boring if it weren't for Holmgren and Lou.

Also if you're not following https://twitter.com/TGfireandice you're doing it wrong.

[isladar]

[Obsidian]

Someone please explain to me what I just watched.

[Mazmaz]

shockingly professional hockey players enjoy playing hockey

shockingly humans like doing the least amount of work for the most amount of returns

[Wulfgang]

KOVALCHUK RETIRED LOOOOOL

FUCK YOU NEW JERSEY

I almost never post from work, but holy shit I cannot believe this just happened. He is and would probably remain a top 10, maybe 15, forward in the league for the next two years at least.

[Ishido]

shockingly humans like doing the least amount of work for the most amount of returns

Yes, playing shitty last year and getting a buyout would have worked far better

But not playing and getting $0 also works for Kovy apparently!

[Mazmaz]

all I wanted to do was understand why you still get paid if you retire tbh, not start an argument. Everyone was saying he was making ridiculous cash for retiring.

[Bregor]

Yes, playing shitty last year and getting a buyout would have worked far better

But not playing and getting $0 also works for Kovy apparently!

OR playing in Russia for slightly less money but where his family is and income tax is like 14% works too.

Honestly I'm surprised more Russians don't just stay in the KHL. Just ask to be scratched against Vityaz and you're golden.

Please please please don't do this Ovie, and Kuznetsov please please please come over after Sochi...

[Palin]

all I wanted to do was understand why you still get paid if you retire tbh, not start an argument. Everyone was saying he was making ridiculous cash for retiring.

He's leaving all his NA money on the table. But speculation is he's going to get $20 mil/year in the KHL at a 13% tax rate.

[Ishido]

all I wanted to do was understand why you still get paid if you retire tbh, not start an argument. Everyone was saying he was making ridiculous cash for retiring.

Nobody said he still made money, I said he gave up $56m over the next 5 years, and someone else said he already had a billion dollars.

OR playing in Russia for slightly less money but where his family is and income tax is like 14% works too.

Honestly I'm surprised more Russians don't just stay in the KHL. Just ask to be scratched against Vityaz and you're golden.

Please please please don't do this Ovie, and Kuznetsov please please please come over after Sochi...

If he plays in Russia he might be banned from the Olympics because of the agreement between the NHL and KHL. Have to be a free agent to change leagues.

He apparently made $15m during the lockout though, and would be paid about that per season if he goes back and risks not playing in the Olympics. I am guessing he stays retired for one season, goes to the KHL after the Olympics.