You guys all know Kovalchuk NEVER said he was going to, or even wanted to, STAY in the KHL, right? He said he wanted to stay for the ASG because it's unfair to all the fans to just have these stars they've been watching all season disappear right before the event. He will be in camp Monday. The whole issue was a non-story that got blown massively out of proportion. Hate Kovy and the Devils all you want for real reasons, but Kovy is a serious, committed NHL player and questioning that is just stupid, IMO.
Small correction, his flight from Russia is not until January 15th (Tuesday), the devils will be lucky to have him on the ice on Wednesday. That was confirmed by multiple reporters; none of which have heard that the devils gave him permission to do this. Datsyuk was given permission by the red wings to stay in Russia for the All Star Game and then come back, I believe he is flying back on Monday (or he will be in camp Monday). Tom Guilliti (I think that is how you spell his name) of the record (same paper Andrew Gross works for) has it up on his blog of when Kovalchuk will be back.
And, I don't necessarily agree with your opinion, but I do respect. I have never liked Kovalchuk so that may blurr the truth or him, however, I just always felt he was a selfish teammate and it really appeared that he only cared about money. Also, if the Devils and Kovalchuk's agent knew he was coming back, why would they not comment on the situation. Just the whole situation sounded a bit too fishy rather than pieces being taken out of context. However, I would think that if he desperately wanted to stay in Russia he could have retired from the NHL and stayed in the KHL, I am not familiar if there is a time you have to file for retirement. So who knows, only Kovalchuk knows, and when he gets back to the states he will say whatever he has to say to make everyone happy.
Nearly 9:30am and there's been surprisingly little news given McKenzie's prediction of a Free Agent Frenzy like midnight... The only moves that've happened have been a couple of minor UFA signings - and they were all leaked well in advance of midnight. Curious to see who may show up at various camps on try outs.
Small correction, his flight from Russia is not until January 15th (Tuesday), the devils will be lucky to have him on the ice on Wednesday. That was confirmed by multiple reporters; none of which have heard that the devils gave him permission to do this. Datsyuk was given permission by the red wings to stay in Russia for the All Star Game and then come back, I believe he is flying back on Monday (or he will be in camp Monday). Tom Guilliti (I think that is how you spell his name) of the record (same paper Andrew Gross works for) has it up on his blog of when Kovalchuk will be back.
And, I don't necessarily agree with your opinion, but I do respect. I have never liked Kovalchuk so that may blurr the truth or him, however, I just always felt he was a selfish teammate and it really appeared that he only cared about money. Also, if the Devils and Kovalchuk's agent knew he was coming back, why would they not comment on the situation. Just the whole situation sounded a bit too fishy rather than pieces being taken out of context. However, I would think that if he desperately wanted to stay in Russia he could have retired from the NHL and stayed in the KHL, I am not familiar if there is a time you have to file for retirement. So who knows, only Kovalchuk knows, and when he gets back to the states he will say whatever he has to say to make everyone happy.
I confused the report of Datsyuk being in camp on Monday with Kovy. Still, I think Kovy is a gamer and we just, mostly, hate him because he's a Devil. I also think that Russians still get a bad rep but that's a different issue. Either way, I'd heard Devils fans say that Lou had been in communication with Kovy directly the whole time and the no comment business was just how Lou handles everything. Not sure if I necessarily believe it, but I do believe that it was taken out of context that Kovy ever said he wanted to spend the year over there. People just wanted a story, IMO.
I don't really like the guy, but I find it pretty awful that there isn't a solution where these guys could play SOMEWHERE without it hurting the big club. Wouldn't have been that difficult.
How are the Rangers so good even after Sather gave Gomez and Redden all that money? So lucky the got McDonaugh for Gomez.............oh man even typing that I have to laugh
should not laugh too much though cause Redden is on the cap and Drury buyout still on this yr
I confused the report of Datsyuk being in camp on Monday with Kovy. Still, I think Kovy is a gamer and we just, mostly, hate him because he's a Devil. I also think that Russians still get a bad rep but that's a different issue. Either way, I'd heard Devils fans say that Lou had been in communication with Kovy directly the whole time and the no comment business was just how Lou handles everything. Not sure if I necessarily believe it, but I do believe that it was taken out of context that Kovy ever said he wanted to spend the year over there. People just wanted a story, IMO.
haha I figured...He is a devil, but I never liked him from when he was with Atlanta, and although I am sure the devils will find a way to be very competitive still, I just think they are winding up similar to the thrashers where kovy is the face of the franchise in the front and spotlight and carrying the team and it sure seemed like he crumbled under that type of pressure. Last season parise was the face, now it is kovy again. I just don't believe he is a player to build a team around.
haha I figured...He is a devil, but I never liked him from when he was with Atlanta, and although I am sure the devils will find a way to be very competitive still, I just think they are winding up similar to the thrashers where kovy is the face of the franchise in the front and spotlight and carrying the team and it sure seemed like he crumbled under that type of pressure. Last season parise was the face, now it is kovy again. I just don't believe he is a player to build a team around.
I don't think that's that fair considering Atlanta was a terribly managed team, top down. One guy is never going to do it all for you, and he was mostly a young player there and hadn't learned to play both sides of the game. He was definitely NJ's best player last year and through most of the playoffs despite playing with a pretty bad injury. New Jersey needs to find a goaltending solution for the future or they will struggle, but they have Larrson and Henrique and some other good prospects and I think their GM is much, much better than the Atlanta situation.
I don't think that's that fair considering Atlanta was a terribly managed team, top down. One guy is never going to do it all for you, and he was mostly a young player there and hadn't learned to play both sides of the game. He was definitely NJ's best player last year and through most of the playoffs despite playing with a pretty bad injury. New Jersey needs to find a goaltending solution for the future or they will struggle, but they have Larrson and Henrique and some other good prospects and I think their GM is much, much better than the Atlanta situation.
I agree about the gm, lou is a great gm, but how much longer does he have left? Some rumors have been flying around that he will retire when brodeur retires, and one would think brodeur will be retiring after his contract is up, but who knows, time will tell.
Still cannot believe that Sather pulled this trade off in 2009:
Quote:
Flashback to June 30, 2009: NYR trade Gomez, Tom Pyatt, Michael Busto to MTL for Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonah, Pavel Valentenko.
Westgarth is the biggest plug in the world.
