Star forward ilya kovalchuk stunned the new jersey devils on thursday, retiring from the nhl to return to his native russia. Devils ilya kovalchuk announces retirement from nhl by adam kimelman stating a desire to return home to russia, new jersey devils forward ilya kovalchuk on thursday announced his retirement from. He announced his retirement from the nhl on july 11, 20, and played the next five seasons with ska saint petersburg of the kontinental hockey league, where he was named mvp of the gagarin cup. Ilya kovalchuk may return to nhl through loophole sports illustrated. Ilya kovalchuk bet paying off handsomely for montreal canadiens. Ilya kovalchuk reportedly wants to return to the nhl next season and it. He retires with career nhl totals of 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points with 516 penalty minutes in 816 games. Kovalchuk retired from the nhl and went back to play in russia for a. Ilya kovalchuks return to the nhl may be quicker and easier due to a. Although devils general manager lou lamoriello knew kovalchuk had been considering retirement since before the 2012 shortened season, kovalchuks departure came as a surprise to the public.
Kovalchuk scored 417 goals and 399 assists in 816 career nhl games. New jersey acquired kovalchuk via trade prior to the 2010 nhl. Kovalchuk is on team russia in the national league. Looking at ilya kovalchuks complicated contract history. Kovalchuk retirement a little too convenient for all. The contract, signed less than a week after kovalchuk s retirement from the nhl. Dallas stars coach ken hitchcock announces retirement. If ilya kovalchuk wants to retire from the nhl so he can return to russia, where he can live at home and make even more money than he would have in new jersey, kiss him goodbye. Devils, nhl no worse for wear after sudden retirement of.
Kovalchuk played 11 seasons in the nhl, including the last four with new jersey. On july 11, 20, kovalchuk chose to retire from the nhl. When kovalchuk retired in june of 20 as a member of the new. Then it recently resurfaced, and his desire was to retire from the national hockey league, and the only way he could do that was to sign his voluntary retirement. A player whose name has been entered on the voluntarily retired list. Devils ilya kovalchuk announces retirement from nhl. He hasnt played in the nhl since 20, but ilya kovalchuk could be on his.
Dallas stars coach ken hitchcock announces retirement the 22year nhl coaching veteran plans to remain with the stars as a consultant. He followed that up by shockingly retiring from the nhl in 20, heading home to russia to play for ska saint petersburg in the khl for the. Lamoriello said kovalchuk, 30, signed his voluntary retirement papers, and the team has voided the remaining 12 years of the contract with the. Ilya kovalchuk, signed with the new jersey devils through 2025, announced his retirement from the nhl on thursday afternoon in perhaps the most shocking moment in the history of the franchise. Kovalchuk tallied 417 goals and 816 points in 816 games in total in the nhl. On july 15, 20, kovalchuk signed a fouryear contract with ska saint petersburg. Ilya kovalchuk of new jersey devils announces he will retire. Whether he wants another crack at the stanley cup or not, you can see why he. Kovalchuk announced his retirement from the nhl on thursday, and he is expected to sign with ska st. His best seasons were 200506 and 200708 when he scored a careerhigh 52 goals. If kovalchuk comes back to the nhl, where will he land. New jersey devils were better off without ilya kovalchuk.
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