In unexpected news, New Jersey Devils Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to retire from the NFL, leaving 12 years remaining on the 15-year deal he signed in 2010. By retiring, he walks away from $77 million on the deal and now likely will return to Russia, where he played during the lockout.
Kovalchuk was originally drafted by the Thrashers in 2001 and he leaves the NHL with career totals of 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points with 516 penalty minutes in 816 games and he was one of the first players to sign one of those crazy contracts that went around the previous CBA agreement. He signed a huge 17-year, $102 million deal with the team and now he walks away and likely will join the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.
"This decision was something I have thought about for a long time going back to the lockout and spending the year in Russia," Kovalchuk said. "Though I decided to return this past season, Lou was aware of my desire to go back home and have my family there with me. The most difficult thing for me is to leave the New Jersey Devils, a great organization that I have a lot of respect for, and our fans that have been great to me."
