Retirement shock: Roenick rips into Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk, now in the KHL, remains one of the most impacting trade deadline rentals.

Luke Fox July 11, 2013, 4:41 PM

Ilya Kovalchuk’s retirement from the NHL caught the hockey world by surprise Thursday afternoon, as the 30-year-old leaves a New Jersey Devils contract with a whopping 12 years and $77 million left on the table.

The Russian superstar is expected to rejoin the Kontinental Hockey League, where he captained SKA St. Petersburg during the NHL’s lockout.

Although Kovalchuk repeatedly stated his desire to remain in the KHL and threatened to return after the lockout, his leaving hockey’s most elite league still rocked those who follow the game closely.

Led by a ticked-off Jeremy Roenick, here are the most potent tweets from an audience that picked its collective jaw off the floor and took to social media:

https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Roenick/status/355417113428635648

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!!!

— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) July 11, 2013

Kovalchuk is as selfish as they come!!!! I'm appalled. I feel bad for all u devils fans. U deserve better than that!!

— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) July 11, 2013

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

— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) July 11, 2013

I guess kovalchuk does what he wants …

— Jonathan Drouin (@jodrouin27) July 11, 2013

https://twitter.com/NHLDevils/status/355427462852775936

This Kovalchuk scenario was not quite right from the start.Fit,style of play,contract were unnatural fits for #NJD…

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) July 11, 2013

#Devils Ilya Kovalchuk retires. His 816 points since 2001-02 are 4th-most in that time. Only Iginla, St. Louis & Thornton have more

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) July 11, 2013

Good news: With all the new cap space, the @NHLDevils can go after LeBron next offseason.

— CMF (@SpeakoftheDevs) July 11, 2013

Per a source within KHL, Kovalchuk made upwards of $15M while playing there during the lockout. IF he goes there, that's his likely salary.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 11, 2013

Had a prominent Russian agent tell me…no one chooses to play in the #KHL over the #NHL because of the hockey. Always about the money

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 11, 2013

https://twitter.com/sproudfoot/status/355418521599086593

Remember that the #devils have to forfeit their first-round pick next season because of the Ilya Kovalchuk contract.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 11, 2013

https://twitter.com/Dave_Stubbs/status/355417054016319491

https://twitter.com/dchesnokov/status/355419109078474752