Matteau#32 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Stars of all nationalities sell the league Matteau. I agree in that the NHL will survive, but this is the first time that, if you consider MLB, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL the four "big" North American sports leagues, that another league in the KHL is actually becoming a thorn in the side of one of them. Kovy is really kind of a first...there's international stars in the other leagues, but they all want to come play in the North American leagues. Some of the top Japanese baseball players want to come HERE if so inclined (US ballplayers that couldn't cut it in MLB go over there, almost as a last resort). There's very nice money to be made in European basketball leagues, but their top players want to play in the NBA, and our top NBA players don't want to go there...same as some ballplayers who go to Japan, some fringe or lesser NBA players go to those leagues and play better (with more playing time) against the lesser competition for more dollars than they would get here. I think when it comes to star players we're willing to pay to see, I don't think we really care where they come from. It doesn't matter that Kovy is Russian; it matters that he was a dynamic player that was well-known throughout the league and helped sell tickets. It's a loss. If a European basketball league ever started up with the money behind the KHL, you would start seeing a few European stars stay home. With baseball, very few Japanese players come here as opposed to with hockey and even less were real stars. Ichiro, Matsui, Nomo, that's about it. If they had left in the middle of their prime, MLB wouldn't skip a beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I mean, a few days ago it was actually going to be quite important that they used a compliance buyout on Hedberg. Supposedly Lou and co knew about Kovy leaving for weeks. I don't buy the theory they pushed him out the door one bit, if they were going to do it at all it would have been after next year after they try not to forfeit a top ten pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsfan118 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I hope the rest of the Russian stars at least entertain the idea of leaving for the KHLScare this stupid league into never locking out again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matteau#32 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Russians, as such, leaving won't hurt, so much as talent and draws for certain markets could suffer. Caps' attendance and general interest was dreadful before Ovechkin arrived. I lived in DC from 2001 to 2004. I remember there was a spike in interest when Jagr arrived, but otherwise, walking around the city and listening to sports talk radio there, you wouldn't think the Caps existed, and that was with a Wizards team that was awful, and no baseball team. I went back a few years ago, and Ovechkin jerseys all over the place. If Ovechkin left tomorrow, and especially if it hurt in the standings, that sell out streak they've had will end pretty quickly. On the other hand, Datsyuk could leave, and so long as the Wings are a good team or just not dreadful, people in Michigan will still watch. On a national level, I don't think it'll matter so much. The brand name national sports networks barely follow it at all, Russians or no Russians. If you want to use it as some indicator of the national sports psyche, however lame it is, the Mike and Mike show is still talking about the friggin' NBA. They talked about the Blackhawks for all of ten minutes, and then it was right back to Lebron. Then of course there's Canada. They sell out arenas to watch 16 year olds. I don't think they care if the best Russian players are in the KHL. Very few markets. If ALL the Russian players got up and left today, the only team that would take a hit is the Caps. Penguins would suffer talent-wise obviously, but that franchise lives and dies with Crosby. I don't see it happening, though. There is money for the superstar (malkin, ovechkin, kovalchuk), however even the 2nd tier superstar is going to make a lot more $ playing here. As far as ESPN, the only time I watch ESPN is for Monday Night Football and only when the Giants are playing. I do not expect the NHL to ever get the media attention given to the other 3. Like you said, losing Russians won't change it. I hope the rest of the Russian stars at least entertain the idea of leaving for the KHL Scare this stupid league into never locking out again. It won't scare anyone. Only way league would get scared is if the best Canadians started heading over. Look at the draft this year. I think there were less than 10 Russians drafted this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevsMan84 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Pray for the poor souls who would dare wear a Kovy Russian jersey to the Prudential Center next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Supposedly Lou and co knew about Kovy leaving for weeks. I don't buy the theory they pushed him out the door one bit, if they were going to do it at all it would have been after next year after they try not to forfeit a top ten pick. The pick is a sunk cost - paying $11M to recover a sunk cost is quite asinine. Not to mention if Schneider does what he should, they shouldn't be close to that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzey Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/russia-says-it-will-arrest-openly-gay-tourists/ In a throwback to the country’s authoritarian ruling, Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law that punishes people for “homosexual propaganda.” The law fines people—including tourists—up to 200,000 rubles ($6,240 CDN) for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” They might have a case against Kovy since he just got finished banging the Devils in the ass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satans Hockey Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 If you ask me, this is the DAY THE NHL died. Ridicilious statement. The KHL will never, ever come close to being anything to the NHL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Dan 56 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/russia-says-it-will-arrest-openly-gay-tourists/ They might have a case against Kovy since he just got finished banging the Devils in the ass. I'm sure he'll have the cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 No, yesterday was the day Russia ceased to be part of the NHL. It wouldn't shock me if there were no Russians left in the NHL after a decade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenstatepkwy Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 No, yesterday was the day Russia ceased to be part of the NHL. It wouldn't shock me if there were no Russians left in the NHL after a decade. James Mirtle @mirtle1m Only 18 Russian skaters played 30+ games in NHL last season. Ten years ago, there were 45+ regulars in the league. Slowly fading away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsfan118 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 So, someone started a petition for this..gave me a chuckle: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/start-a-new-cold-war-because-kovalchuk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Ridicilious statement. The KHL will never, ever come close to being anything to the NHL. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoArmySports Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 So, someone started a petition for this..gave me a chuckle: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/start-a-new-cold-war-because-kovalchuk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devlman Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 (edited) He couldnt have waited a few years to go play in russia? Its not like its going anywhere. By the way, for the longest while yesterday ESPN had this story as a little side header on their sh!tty website. What a joke of a network. Even worse than ESPN is the two NY tabloid papers. The Post just pulled the AP story, truncated it, and buried it deep in their sports section lol (at least the online version). Disgusting. Oh, and his retirement now makes that 'Will Kovy Re-Sign' HOF-thread seem pathetic Edited July 12, 2013 by devlman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsfan118 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 (edited) Get your tinfoil hats out, conspiracy theory coming in:I still can't imagine why Lou would sign the papers and leave Kovy scott free to sign anywhere he pleases outside the NHL. It just makes no sense; Lou's being majorly taken advantage of if he just decided to do it to be a "good guy". Hockey is a business, and that's not how business works. Here's the conspiracy: someone from the KHL essentially paid Vanerbeek off. It's no secret he's not exactly wealthy anymore, and it's no secret there's a stupidly large amount of money in the KHL between a few owners. It could easily be quietly done, and Lou would have no say in the matter if JVB gave the orders.I know it's absolute nonsense, but hey, why not share it? It sounds just as absurd to me as the theory that Lou didn't want to sign Kovy in the first place. Edited July 12, 2013 by Devilsfan118 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils731 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Get your tin hats out, conspiracy theory coming in: I still can't imagine why Lou would sign the papers and leave Kovy scott free to sign anywhere he pleases outside the NHL. It just makes no sense; Lou's being majorly taken advantage of if he just decided to do it to be a "good guy". Hockey is a business, and that's not how business works. Here's the conspiracy: someone from the KHL essentially bought Vanerbeek out. It's no secret he's not exactly wealthy anymore, and it's no secret there's a stupidly large amount of money in the KHL between a few owners. it could easily be quietly done, and Lou would have no say in the matter if JVB gave the orders. I know it's absolute nonsense, but hey, why not share it? It sounds just as absurd to me as the theory that Lou didn't want to sign Kovy in the first place. Equally likely conspiracy theory is the Devils think Kovy's back is shot and are secretly relieved to get out of his contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarpathianForest Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Get your tin hats out, conspiracy theory coming in: I still can't imagine why Lou would sign the papers and leave Kovy scott free to sign anywhere he pleases outside the NHL. It just makes no sense; Lou's being majorly taken advantage of if he just decided to do it to be a "good guy". Hockey is a business, and that's not how business works. Here's the conspiracy: someone from the KHL essentially paid Vanerbeek off. It's no secret he's not exactly wealthy anymore, and it's no secret there's a stupidly large amount of money in the KHL between a few owners. It could easily be quietly done, and Lou would have no say in the matter if JVB gave the orders. I know it's absolute nonsense, but hey, why not share it? It sounds just as absurd to me as the theory that Lou didn't want to sign Kovy in the first place. Or maybe Kovy just said "Fvck it, I'm leaving and there's nothing you can do about it." Occam's Razor and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoArmySports Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 Here's the conspiracy: someone from the KHL essentially paid Vanerbeek off. It's no secret he's not exactly wealthy anymore, and it's no secret there's a stupidly large amount of money in the KHL between a few owners. It could easily be quietly done, and Lou would have no say in the matter if JVB gave the orders. Although I'm not a conspiracy theorist if this actually happened I believe that is a great thing for the organization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newarkdev01 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Is there a way we can merge the now 5-10 Kovy threads...I feel like I have ADHD covering the same points over all the same threads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squishyx Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Get your tinfoil hats out, conspiracy theory coming in: I still can't imagine why Lou would sign the papers and leave Kovy scott free to sign anywhere he pleases outside the NHL. It just makes no sense; Lou's being majorly taken advantage of if he just decided to do it to be a "good guy". Hockey is a business, and that's not how business works. Why is this so hard to understand? Kovy was not going to play for the Devils anymore. period. Lou tolling the contract just drags the matter out, makes it a distraction going forward, brings up more drama between the hockey leagues, potentially impacts the Olympics and for what? On the off chance Kovy was going to change his mind and come back to play for the Devils again? Plus consider this, if he did toll the contract, and the KHL for whatever reason decided to honor it and not let Kovy play, at the start of any season Kovy could just show up to camp collect his 77m sit on the bench and play Sudoku for 82 games a year. No thanks. Glad Lou has his head on straight. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Why is this so hard to understand? Kovy was not going to play for the Devils anymore. period. Lou tolling the contract just drags the matter out, makes it a distraction going forward, brings up more drama between the hockey leagues, potentially impacts the Olympics and for what? On the off chance Kovy was going to change his mind and come back to play for the Devils again? Plus consider this, if he did toll the contract, and the KHL for whatever reason decided to honor it and not let Kovy play, at the start of any season Kovy could just show up to camp collect his 77m sit on the bench and play Sudoku for 82 games a year. No thanks. Glad Lou has his head on straight. Agree. I don't even know why this is a discussion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin226 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Cant believe had I had to remove the Kovy quote from my sig about the Devils playing hard for the fans.. smh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Cant believe had I had to remove the Kovy quote from my sig about the Devils playing hard for the fans.. smh Oh the irony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 'This is team'. Remember that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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