Davies hands off Irelands CJ Stander When Jack Mc

The New Jersey Devils announced on Thursday that forward Ilya Kovalchuk is retiring from the NHL. "After many conversations with Ilya over the past year on his desire to retire from the National Hockey League, Ilyas decision became official today," said general manager Lou Lamoriello in a statement. "On behalf of the entire organization, I wish Ilya and his family all the best in their future endeavors." Kovalchuk played 11 seasons in the NHL, including the last four with New Jersey. He retires with career NHL totals of 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points with 516 penalty minutes in 816 games. He added 11 goals and 16 assists in 32 career playoff games. "At first blush, (the news) is pretty shocking," said TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "And then you think about it for a moment and you say no, its not that shocking at all. We knew coming out of the lockout that there were all sorts of stories saying if he could have stayed in Russia with St. Petersburg he would have done that. He basically came back as a reluctant player after the lockout was over." Kovalchuk scored 89 goals and 112 assists for 201 points in 222 games, while adding eight goals and 11 assists in 23 playoff games with the Devils. He was traded to New Jersey by Atlanta on February 4, 2010. He was Atlantas first choice, and the first overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. "This decision was something I have thought about for a long time going back to the lockout and spending the year in Russia," said Kovalchuk in a team statement. "Though I decided to return this past season, Lou 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." He represented Russia at three Olympic Winter Games, nine World Championships, one World Junior Championship and the 2004 World Cup. "Its sad," said Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates, who spent two years as an assistant with the Devils. "Its sad for our league. Thats one of our good players, were going to miss him." Kovalchuk signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils in 2010 and leaves $77 million behind with his retirement. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told TSN 1050 Radio on Thursday afternoon that the cap advantage of Kovalchuks contract was roughly $4 million over the first three years of his contract (as his first two years were significantly below his average annual salary). Daly added that the Devils will have to pay it back in cap charges over the remaining 12 years of the contract (roughly $300,000 a year). "The short-term pain of losing a significant asset on the team is a long-term financial gain, even though there is a quarter of a million dollar cap hit over the next 12 years," explained McKenzie. "In the grand scheme of things, thats chump change." It was speculated but not confirmed that Kovalchuk will continue his playing career in the Kontinental Hockey League. Reports from Russian news agencies indicated he will officially sign with SKA Saint Petersburg on Friday. Kovalchuk played for SKA during the lockout and made it clear several months ago that he would stay there if he could.Wholesale Jerseys From China . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Cheap NFL Jerseys Shop . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.wholesalechinajerseys.net/ . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Authentic Cheap Jerseys . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Supply NFL Jerseys . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set.Wales and Ireland opened their Six Nations campaigns with a tense 16-16 draw at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.Ireland were 13-0 up after 27 minutes thanks to a Conor Murray try and two Johnny Sexton penalties, but Wales fought back through a try from Taulupe Faletau and the boot of replacement fly-half Rhys Priestland, who levelled the scores with his second penalty after 48 minutes.Priestland and Sexton traded further goals, and the Welsh pivot attempted a drop goal to win the game with two minutes remaining, but the effort went wide as the two sides were forced to make do with a draw in the opening weekend of the 2016 Six Nations. The draw means England finish top of the table after round one thanks to their 15-9 win over Scotland, with France in second place after beating Italy in Paris.Ireland started the game with more intensity than their visitors, and Sexton helped them to a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes following a pair of penalties.Dan Biggar had a penalty attempt of his own as the first quarter drew to a close, but he missed the effort and limped off the field soon thereafter to be replaced by Priestland. Rhys Priestland offered eleven points with the boot Ireland were soon back on the front foot with an attacking lineout, and on the back of it Jamie Heaslip appeared to have scored for the home side, but the TMO could not award the try and Ireland were awarded a 5m scrum.Quick ball off the first phase led to Murray taking the ball at the base of a ruck with the Welsh defence not set, and after throwing a dummy the scrum-half dived over the line for the opening try of the game.With 27 minutes played and Ireland 13-0 up, the game appeared to be getting away from Wales, but the try ignited Warren Gatlands men as they closed out the half the stronger of the two sides. Taulupe Faletau brings Wales to within three points with a try from the base of a scrum First Priestland slotted a penalty to register Wales first points of the game.dddddddddddd The fly-half almost went one better when he put in a clever cross-field kick from which Liam Williams nearly scored a try, but Simon Zebo did just enough to disrupt the catch.The referee was playing advantage at the time, but Wales turned down the chance for three points in favour of a scrum. Another penalty led to another scrum, and at the second time of asking Faletau darted over the line from the set-piece to make it 13-10 going into the break.Wales started the second half the way they ended the first, piling the pressure on Ireland as Priestland brought them level with a 48th-minute penalty.The two sides cancelled each other out for the next 25 minutes, with Sexton providing the most promising scoring opportunity when he ghosted through the Welsh midfield, but his pass to Andrew Trimble ended with the winger bundled into touch by Tom James. Wales Jonathan Davies hands off Irelands CJ Stander When Jack McGrath failed to roll away from a ruck Priestland was then given a chance to give Wales the lead for the first time in the game, and the Bath fly-half made no mistake with his attempt.However Wales lead was immediately eradicated when Thomas Francis failed to retreat from a Lloyd Williams kick ahead, and Sexton nailed the kick from the edge of his range to level things up once more.With Wales hot on attack with just over two minutes remaining Priestland dropped into the pocket, but watched from afar as his kick sailed left of the uprights.Neither side appeared prepared to accept the scoreline as they continued to run at each other with no time left on the clock, before Murray was eventually tackled into touch to bring down the curtain on a thrilling draw. ' ' '