28 replies to this topic

[Zubie#8]

I dont have a problem with the way he said it. It is his opinion. Ovechkin constantly whined like a baby about it.

[caron14]

me neither im not concern, we all know he'll be back. He just said it to dont have his salaries cut. Like he said NHLPA will never accept that and Nhl want to keep their stars

[ATLL765]

me neither im not concern, we all know he'll be back. He just said it to dont have his salaries cut. Like he said NHLPA will never accept that and Nhl want to keep their stars

That's what I was saying too. We are pretty assured that the guy didn't sign a 15 year contract, move his family out here, build a house and say all that this is team sh!t just so he could go back to Russia to make a few extra dollars he won't even notice.

He's clearly just saying, and I would not be surprised if all these guys talking about the same this is not coincidence, that he won't come back so the owner's don't just think the players are pushovers.

[cgb6397]

He seems to like the KHL, because he's a hockey player. He loves what he does. He obviously just wants to get back on the ice in New Jersey and take another run at the Cup.

If he's smiling and enjoying his time in the KHL, that's nothing but a good thing. If he goes there, doesn't produce numbers, and has a frown on his face the whole time, I'd say, "Ehh, somethin's up.."

I don't know, your argument of him being a hockey player and just loving what he does, doesn't work in our favor as that very well may be a reason for him to say "it's the same game, the KHL is probably the second best league in the world, why not stay"

[ghdi]

I find it hard to get worked up or even care about comments made by players during a lock out. Its all posturing BS IMO. I highly doubt Kovy stays in the KHL once the lockout is over unless the salary change is massive. I don't think the players will agree to anything like that to begin with. This is a non-story as far as Im concerned.

[Triumph]

I don't know, your argument of him being a hockey player and just loving what he does, doesn't work in our favor as that very well may be a reason for him to say "it's the same game, the KHL is probably the second best league in the world, why not stay"

If Kovalchuk wanted to play in the KHL, he'd've been there in 2010. He doesn't want to play there full-time. It's not the same game.

[sundstrom]

He has two houses in the US. While his KHL contract may pay him more on a year to year basis, if he gets injured he will get nothing - it's a much larger risk to play in the KHL. And most importantly, the NHL is the most competitive league in the world. Kovalchuk can win all the KHL championships he likes, he can dominate that league, but it's not the NHL. Not to mention that while Russia is home for these guys, it brings with it some oddities that life in the United States does not.

If Kovalchuk wanted to play in the KHL, he'd've been there in 2010. He doesn't want to play there full-time. It's not the same game.

the NHL contract is too good to pass up to play in russia, but don't be fooled for one second regarding his house and life in NJ. if the money was guaranteed in russia, it would be an extremely difficult decision for him and if say, they agreed to a straight 24% rollback or something crazy like that where his contract went from $100MM to $75MM - it would not shock me at all if he stayed.

i would actually bet that Kovy goes back to russia for good in about 8 years.

russians love russia.

[njdevsftw]

It's weird how, in a country where unions are frowned upon for normal blue collar workers, it seems everyone accepts that all the millionaire pro athletes are organized.

[point]

I thought it was weird when Jagr #68 of all people, said how great it was to play in Russia. Then he signed with Philly.