That appears to be fairly straightforward, if entirely contradictory to 8.2, doesn’t it? A player who rethinks his retirement only needs to wait a year before signing a new deal and returning to action. And since Kovalchuk signed his retirement papers on July 11, 2013, more than 18 months ago, it appears as though he could sign a new contract with the Devils, his previous NHL team, and be eligible for immediate reinstatement.
http://www.si.com/nhl/2015/03/24/ilya-kovalchuk-return-to-nhl-new-jersey-devils-bylaw-loophole