This Day in Hockey History
2013 - Kovalchuck retires from the NHL
With 12 years and $77-million remaining on his contract, New Jersey Devils superstar Ilya Kovalchuk announces his retirement from the NHL.
Kovalchuk, who captained SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL during the lockout, cited his desire to spend more time with his family in Russia as the reason why he decided to walk away from the NHL.
"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 in a statement released by the team (via NHL.com). "Though I decided to return this past season, [general manager] Lou [Lamoriello] 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."
The 31-year-old sniper didn't wait long to make his next move, signing a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg on July 15.
The first overall pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2001 NHL Draft, Kovalchuk was a three-time All-Star, won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal-scorer (2003-04), and notched 417 goals in 816 games split between the Thrashers and Devils.
Birthdays
1932 - Ron Stewart
1932 - Jean-Guy Talbot
1952 - Bill Barber
1962 - Gaetan Duchesne
1963 - Al MacInnis
1984 - Joe Pavelski