Ilya Kovalchuk Retires From NHL, Signs With KHL

In what has to be one of the slightly strangest stories to come from the NHL this offseason, Devils scoring star Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to retire from the NHL. Last week, Kovalchuk walked away from $77 million left on his 15-year contract with the New Jersey Devils. Kovy was 30 years old when he decided to call it a career in the NHL. Kovalchuk scored 417 goals and added 399 assists in 816 NHL games. His best seasons were in 2005-06 and 2007-08 when he scored a career-high 52 goals. He had three other 40-goal seasons. Kovalchuk has represented Russia at three Winter Olympics, nine world championships, one world junior championship and the 2004 World Cup. He played with SKA St. Petersburg during the recent lockout. The contract is reportedly worth $11.3 million for the upcoming 2013-14 season.

That time spent playing in Russia during the last lockout was the big factor that lead to this decision to go play back home in Russia for Kovalchuk. He went on record to say that he wanted to spend more time with his family, and have them closer to him. Going to play back home in Russia was the best way he felt he could do that. Also there are reports floating around that there could be a desire, by Kovalchuk, to come back and play again in the NHL. The possible return could happen as soon as the 2018 NHL season. As it stands, if Kovalchuk decided he wanted to return to the NHL, he would have to get unanimous approval from all 30 clubs. In a year's time, if Kovalchuk wanted to return, he'd have to get approval from the Devils. By the time he would possibly come back, Kovalchuk would be about 35 years old, and at that time he could still have some jump in his legs and still be able to play.

The big question that remains here is that if Kovy does indeed decide to return to the NHL, will he be welcomed back? I'm not really sure to be honest with you. I can understand wanting to go back home to play and be closer to his family. That's human nature. But it was a little surprising to see him walk out on the remainder of his big contract, especially leaving $77 million sitting on the table. It does indeed leave you sitting there scratching your head.