News of Ilya Kovalchuck's departure for the KHL shook the NHL this week. I say good riddance. I'm not a fan of Kovalchuck, nor the New Jersey Devils so when he signed there, for a ridiculous 11 years, it was that much easier for me to dislike them both. As a Sens fan the Devils cost us a cup in 2003, and the franchise has long had a habit of parlaying a dull style of hockey into success. Lou Lamrillo has an uncanny way of replacing lost talent at a sensible price and practically stole Cory Schneider from Vancouver (perhaps in an offer they couldn't refuse...) in an attempt to answer the long time question what would they do when Martin Brodeur retires? Seriously, you didn't think they were going to rely on Johan Hedberg?
Kovalchuck is an elite player and a proven goal scorer. A rare commodity and the Devils will certainly feel his loss. Combine this with Zack Parise's departure for Minnesota last season and David Clarkson signing with the Maple Leafs this summer as a free agent and the Devils are suddenly looking at a roster that's not what it once was. Speaking of which they resigned Patrick Elias, who, while a solid veteran presence, isn't the player he was and Martin Brodeur isn't getting any younger. Schneider is unproven but looks like the real deal so time will tell how that deal worked out.
Despite my distaste for him, I applaud Kovalchuck's decision to follow his heart and be closer to family and friends at home. I'm sure the estimated 15/20 mill per season didn't hurt either...To often we criticize athletes for doing it solely for the money and this doesn't seem to be the case in this circumstance. The KHL is not the NHL but is a top tier hockey league and certainly will get a lot of publicity out of a home grown star like Kovalchuck. The worry is that lots of Russian players will start to defect if you will and leave the NHL to stay back home. An odd turn of events considering not so long ago defecting from Russia carried with it a vastly different meaning and many were only to happy to get out.
With the Olympics in Sochi next year and the NHL not yet assured of attending perhaps he is simply making sure that he is there for his country, again, not a terrible thing. I'm sure many of his countrymen are feeling the same pressure and other like Alexander Ovechkin have already stated that they will attend weather the NHL goes or not. In leaving the Devils he has left a hole in their lineup and a lot of questions for their future but had apparently discussed this with GM Lou Lamarillo and was even pondering staying there and continuing to play for St. Petersburg after the lockout ended so to say they were completely caught off guard would be a big surprise.
Kovalchuck's sister has said he may return to the NHL in a few years time and I am sure he will have no trouble finding a suitor should he do so as there will always be teams looking for a guy who can finish. I wouldn't buy those season tickets just yet though...
