307 replies to this topic

[JWomp]

Genadi Boguslavski‏@GenadiB
Kovalchuk will play today in Kazan. Some sources close to SKA say he could stay in Russia #Devils

That is from a Russian hockey writer and it was RTed by McKenzie, who then added:

Bob McKenzie‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
I've heard Kovalchuk rumors (staying in RUS?) but not able to confirm. NJD told me they "haven't heard (Kovy) isn't coming back."

I don't buy it, but it's worth noting. Especially since Kovy has threatened to stay in the KHL before: http://www.cbc.ca/sp...uk-lockout.html

Edited by JWomp, 08 January 2013 - 01:55 PM.

[JWomp]

Darren Dreger‏@DarrenDreger
Bill Daly remains confident Kovy and KHL will honor deals. "We have no reason to believe the KHL will let them play. It would be inconsistent with our agreement with them."

[socbrian]

Wouldn't he be allowed to play today because the CBA is not signed? I think so..

[Triumph]

Wouldn't he be allowed to play today because the CBA is not signed? I think so..

Yeah, he could theoretically play up to Friday. We'll know soon enough, but I don't put a ton of stock in this. Everyone said he was playing today and a lot of guys have already left.

[Marshall]

Kovalchuk says, 'I will need to read the new agreement' before he decides what to do next. So there... #NJDevils

I'm scared now.

['7']

Plus...Kovalchuks life is in NJ now. His daughter goes to school here, his wife's job is here. Believe me he is probably very happy at the prospect of seeing them more often especially with a lighter travel schedule this year (no western conf. games)

[JWomp]

I'm scared now.

I wasn't worried (I figured he wanted one last game with SKA...after all, he is their captain and has been having fun over there), but if he really said that...ugh. Hopefully it's just sh!tty Russian reporting, like when they reported Bryzgalov was leaving the KHL because the "lockout was over" and then Bryz denied saying that.

Here's the link to the tweet: https://twitter.com/...665359567962114

['7']

I'm scared now.

BS...he's not reading any CBA . His agent is going to give him the gist of it ("So basically, you still make tons of money") and he's going to report to NJ

['7']

http://sports.yahoo....37323--nhl.html
Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov throws some more water on this fire:

“I think he is just staying to play another game or so. Not staying for a while. Andrei Markov, I am told, is also still in Russia and may play in the next game for his team. I wouldn’t say this is serious.
“Also, the KHL pretty much conceded that none of the NHLers will play in its ASG in a few days. That includes Kovalchuk. Although I heard that the KHL wanted to ask the NHL to allow their players to participate.”

[Triumph]

If he hadn't shown up by Game #1, I'd hope Lou + Vanderbeek wouldn't hesitate to try to have his contract voided. But yeah, this CBA doesn't change how much he gets paid by a significant amount.

[SMantzas]

I highly doubt Kovy walks away from 80 million. I get the sense the KHL will pay him on a year to year basis and he won't make as much

[oofrostonoo]

Coming from the Russian media... yeah right.

[JWomp]

Tom Gulitti‏@TGfireandice
Bill Daly: "The KHL has confirmed it will honor its agreement with us."

[DJ Eco]

Posted this in the lockout thread, but more appropo here:

You guys are getting swept up in the sensationalism of Twitter reporting. The lack of publicity and openness in the Devils organization means that we get Twitter rumor nonsense every once in a while, especially when Kovalchuk is concerned. "Sources in Russia" are usually as reliable as the town gossipers, at best. If you don't think their coaches and league heads have an inferiority complex, and will for KHL to achieve more legitimacy/dominance, you're naive. If your "sources in Russia" are a coach or a league head, or even his mom, you know how they're going to spin it.

Kovalchuk is an emotional player. He was named captain, and led a very skilled and respectable team, and I'm assuming a large proud fanbase. He owes NOTHING to the NHL, the league that locked him out twice in his career, other than to book a flight on Thursday when the players are set to vote on the CBA. Someone like Kovy probably feels like he owes the SKA fans and his teammates a game or two before rushing to pack his bags for a league that took a crap on him yet again (lockout 1, bullsh!t trade procedure/fine, lockout 2, etc.)... He's in peak physical shape, why SHOULD he come back before camp?

[DaneykoIsGod]

What are the odds he's just hoping to pull a Strahan/Favre and come up with a way to skip training camp?

[Devilsfan118]

Post from other thread:

It's TFP, so it's probably as credible as anyone else's word on these boards, but take it for what it's worth:

http://www.thefourth.../njd130108.html

Kovalchuk's preference, the source said, was to finish the week with SKA and then return to New Jersey.

"He will be in New Jersey for the start of camp," the source told TFP. "Technically, there is no (CBA) yet, so he can keep playing in for SKA until (the CBA) is official."

[Devil Dan 56]

EVERYBODY PANIC.




He'll be here. This is probably Russian hockey media getting all bent out of shape that their players are leaving in droves.

[JWomp]

Larry Brooks ‏@NYP_Brooksie
Last Friday, Malkin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Datsyuk were preparing press release to announce they intended to remain in KHL regardless...Told that quartet had been promised immense amount of money (guarantee from Putin) to stay in KHL and not return to NHL...Told that NHLPA was able to talk players out of issuing statement...Ovechkin has returned, Datsyuk has pledged to honor last 2 yrs with Det

[Colin226]

@TGfireandice: RT @dchesnokov: Kovalchuk tells R-Sport he is waiting for the official announcement of the CBA; playing in the KHL now to "stay in shape." #NJD

[ATLL765]

Larry Brooks ‏@NYP_Brooksie
Last Friday, Malkin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Datsyuk were preparing press release to announce they intended to remain in KHL regardless...Told that quartet had been promised immense amount of money (guarantee from Putin) to stay in KHL and not return to NHL...Told that NHLPA was able to talk players out of issuing statement...Ovechkin has returned, Datsyuk has pledged to honor last 2 yrs with Det

If anyone beyond Visnovsky and some fringe guys(maybe), no one's staying in the KHL. Bad flight safety records, it's fvcking cold, Siberia, cold, lots of travel, really cold. Guys are gonna come back.