Could Ilya Kovalchuk Re-Unite with the New Jersey Devils Due to the KHL Financial Struggles?

            It seems like just yesterday former Devils super-star Ilya Kovalchuk announced his ‘retirement’ from the NHL, leaving twelve years of commitment and $77 guaranteed million from the New Jersey Devils to return to native Russia and play in the KHL. His decision in July of 2013 stunned not just the Devils fan base, but also the entire hockey world at large as no one other than Lou Lamoriello saw this coming. While Kovalchuk said the decision was purely based on his desire to play in his home country, most people, including myself believed the decision was made in large part due to money lost during the 2012 NHL work stoppage.

            Fast forward to today and reports floating around the hockey realm are revealing that two KHL franchises are set to fold due to the drastic drop in the value of the Russian Ruble (currency), which has now lost half it’s value in just two months in comparison to the euro and more importantly the U.S. dollar.

            The worst part about these financial struggles for the KHL is that the value of the Russian currency hasn’t even bottomed out yet, which will only make their financial problems even worse. Yet, all this has come just two years after the KHL was quoted as “the biggest threat to the NHL.”

            So, in getting back to my original point and providing some candy to the ears of New Jersey Devil fans, is it too crazy to think that Kovalchuk could leave the KHL and return state-side to the NHL for better financial security?

            Unfortunately, while this does make complete sense, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. For starters, Kovalchuk does play for SKA St. Petersburg, which is one of the more successful and financially stable teams in Russia. To put it into perspective, they’re the Montreal Canadians of the KHL, so I don’t really believe Kovalchuk is losing too much money in their financial crisis.

            Second, and perhaps the most damaging fact for Devil fans is that even if the super-star wanted to return, all 30 NHL owners would have to approve his reinstatement into the league. Despite the amount of money Kovalchuk will make all the owners via the NHL Revenue Sharing Policy, it’s tough to see any Metropolitan Division, let alone Eastern Conference Owner saying yes and granting a perennial scorer for the Devils. 

            Thus, while the Devils struggles continue nearing the half-way point of the season and the Russian financial struggles continue to get steadily worse, I’ll join all Devil fans in dreaming of a potential Kovalchuk reunion. However, in the back of my mind I’ll keep my sanity knowing that this is one dream that need’s plenty of stars to align before becoming a reality.