Ovie might not come back

[thepittman]

“As to the future, it will depend on what kind of conditions there will be in the NHL with the new CBA,” Ovechkin said. “If our contracts get slashed, I will have to think whether to return there or not. I won’t rule out staying in the KHL, even past this season.”

[Idoit40fans]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

[shmenguin]

this is the biggest chip the players have. losing a guy who is still perceived as a star is a big deal, and no other star would be this believable.

i think AO is full of hot air, but this quote is a good move.

[JeffDFD]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

I'm glad he sucked from a pens perspective! But yeah, it sounds more like sour grapes than anything. He is full of it...unless there is a significant salary roll back. Isn't he making 10 mil a year in NHL? Subtract taxes and roll it back whatever % ends up happening...compare that to what he can make (I think I read he negotiated 5.7 mil in KHL this year?) in the KHL tax free.

[Gaucho]

Posturing.

[shafnutz05]

Posturing.

Yup. Not sour grapes at all

[columbia]

From a free market perspective, it could benefit the league in the long run, to have someone like Ovie leave for good.
It might shock the NHL into understanding that their job is to ice the best players in the world. The NHL is the only North American sports league (no I'm not counting that US soccer league) that actually has competition for players and something like this could be a positive shock: Cut out the labor BS and get to the business of running a premium sports league.


Having said that, it's posturing.

[SolidSnake]

If it helps get the season going then I'm all for it.

[skullman80]

I don't think it really matters.

Isn't there a transfer agreement in place between the KHL and NHL now? Unless he would find a loophole like Geno did.... he is bound to his contract by the Caps.

[Penspal]

Flapping gums in Russian = Flapping gums in English

[darkstar57]

Let him stay in the KHL that is where a lazy russian who has all the talent in the world deserves to play. I know we hate on him, but imagine if he had the work ethic of sid or even the new one geno has found. The guy would be a monster and could have potted 70-80 goal a season

[mac5155]

Well he signed with Dynamo this morning.

[Malkamaniac]

Considering that the KHL and NHL have an agreement in place to respect each others contracts now, expect Ovie back when the lock out ends. In other words, pure posturing.

[Pitt87]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

Not sure why it would scare owners; players a bit past their prime have been heading to the KHL for years at this point. The number of European & Russian born NHL players is shrinking already, while US born players are on a significant rise.

[AlexPKeaton]

I wouldn't blame him one bit if he did. You sign a contract to be paid a certain amount. If the league is going to break the contract then eff them. If the owners are going to lock the players out then eff them twice. I hope even Sid goes to the KHL and quotes something like this. Salary rollback is ridiculous and I side with the players 100% on this. Not the players fault that the owners are stupid and cannot balance a simple bank account and small market teams signing players to monster deals only to secretly know that they are going to push for a salary rollback.

[Idoit40fans]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

Not sure why it would scare owners; players a bit past their prime have been heading to the KHL for years at this point. The number of European & Russian born NHL players is shrinking already, while US born players are on a significant rise.

Ovechkin is like 26 or 27

[shmenguin]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

Not sure why it would scare owners; players a bit past their prime have been heading to the KHL for years at this point. The number of European & Russian born NHL players is shrinking already, while US born players are on a significant rise.

no one even close to ovechkin's relevancy has ever left the NHL. the closest candidates are palffy, radulov, and jagr in his late 30's. different ball park.

[Pitt87]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

Not sure why it would scare owners; players a bit past their prime have been heading to the KHL for years at this point. The number of European & Russian born NHL players is shrinking already, while US born players are on a significant rise.

Ovechkin is like 26 or 27

PLayed on the third line last year. In terms of performance, he is Teemu, not Jaromir.

[Juice]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

Not sure why it would scare owners; players a bit past their prime have been heading to the KHL for years at this point. The number of European & Russian born NHL players is shrinking already, while US born players are on a significant rise.

Ovechkin is like 26 or 27

PLayed on the third line last year. In terms of performance, he is Teemu, not Jaromir.

wat

[newarenanow]

He'll be back.

[Lesky]

I wish he hadn't sucked the last 2 years, this would have terrified the owners.

Not sure why it would scare owners; players a bit past their prime have been heading to the KHL for years at this point. The number of European & Russian born NHL players is shrinking already, while US born players are on a significant rise.

Ovechkin is like 26 or 27

PLayed on the third line last year. In terms of performance, he is Teemu, not Jaromir.

Lol wut.

[shoeshine boy]

Ovi and his family love living the life of rich Americans. he'll come back.