"The desire [to come to the KHL] first
appeared during the lockout," Kovalchuk said during a
question-and-answer feature that appeared on the Russian site
sovsport.ru, according to a translation by NHL.com/ru writer Slava
Malamud. "I liked everything. Saint Petersburg has a great
infrastructure, great fans, competent management. I was pleasantly
surprised. And when I came back to America, after the season was
over, I took a firm position. We had a conversation with the New
Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello about letting me go, so I could
come back to Russia. Some think that I only announced this a week
before the free agency started, but it's not true. I have warned Lou
a long time ago. And I am thankful to [Lou] for understanding. I
think it's for the best for both sides. New Jersey has good young
guys who can develop into good players in the future. As for me, I am
returning home, where I will be enjoying hockey and getting ready for
the season's top event, the [Winter] Olympics in Sochi."
Kovalchuk, 30, played for the St. Petersburg
during the lockout, accumulating 18 goals and 24 assists for 42
points in 36 games. He returned to the Devils in January and was the
club's second-leading scorer with 31 points in 37 games. He also
played a team-high 24:44 per game for the Devils, who missed the
Stanley Cup Playoffs one year after reaching Game 6 of the Stanley
Cup Final. "I am very happy to have played in the strongest
league in the world for so long," he said. "Unfortunately,
I haven't been able to win the Stanley Cup. I was close to this last
year and saw how difficult it is to play in the NHL Playoffs. But
there are no regrets. I am making a step forward in my career,
opening a new page. I have a new goal and new opportunities... I am
sure I have made the right decision."
In his NHL career, which began after he was
selected No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2001 NHL
Draft, Kovalchuk managed 816 points in 816 games. He was traded to
New Jersey in a blockbuster deal in 2010. "I am not leaving
for the moon, for China or for Japan," Kovalchuk said when
asked about the critics of his departure. "I am going home,
where my sister, my mom and all my friends are living. I am much more
comfortable in Russia.
"I am very happy to
have played in the strongest league in the world for so long.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to win the Stanley Cup. I was
close to this last year and saw how difficult it is to play in the
NHL Playoffs. But there are no regrets. I am making a step forward in
my career, opening a new page. I have a new goal and new
opportunities... I am sure I have made the right decision."
Ilya Kovalchuk
I for one will be sad to see a star the quality of Kovalchuk leave the NHL, but good luck to the man. He heads home to Russia leaving behind a multi-million dollar contract, that has sparked some unwarranted dumb-ass comments from one of the biggest gob-shites ever to Ice in the NHL.
That would be one, Jeremy Roenick, who never learns to keep his jaw wired-shut, this time using his twitter account to unleash a barrage of abuse.
[@Jeremy_Roenick:] Uwill all see now why I have talked negatively about kovalchuk !!! He doesn't want to play for the devils and he'll end up in the KHL!!! ... Kovalchuk is as selfish as they come!!!! I'm appalled. I feel bad for all u devils fans. U deserve better than that!! ... I am shocked that kovalchuk would do this to the devils and their fan base!!! Devils lose so much w this decision it's scary!!! Selfish !!!! ... I'm so irate right now. I feel bad for Lou lamoriello. Gave a 100 million dollar contract to a player who has no care for the NHL! ... Hey Ilya hope u live comfortably in Russia w the money u made from the 23 million u stole from the devils Again I'm right in my analysis.
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