Kritik und Lob » -conference games UCo

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. Cheap Jerseys . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Nike China Jerseys . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. https://www.chinasjerseys.com/ . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. China Jerseys 2020 . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. China Jerseys . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. STORRS, Conn. -- Virginia hasnt been able to win on the road. UConn has had clock management issues.The Huskies (1-1) and the Cavaliers (0-2) will look for a bit of redemption when they meet Saturday in East Hartford.UConns Bob Diaco spent much of his weekly press conference defending the play calling at the end of last Saturdays 28-24 loss to Navy, when the Huskies were stuffed on second down at the goal line with 17 seconds left and never got off another play.Defensive end Luke Carrezola said the team will try to turn that experience into a positive.It might sound peculiar, because it was such a way to lose, but in the locker room it wasnt like, We should have done this on that play, he said. It was more an overall understanding that this was an experience that were going to learn and grow from.Virginia lost its 16th straight road game last week , falling behind 30-6, before dropping a 44-26 decision at Oregon. But linebacker Chris Peace said his team is learning what it takes to win away from home.Its something we havent done here in a while, and something weve been working toward, and thats definitely a big goal for us, he said. That first ones going to feel great.The teams havent met since 2008, but UConn is familiar with the system run by first-year Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall. The Huskies lost to Mendenhall-coached BYU teams the past two seasons, falling 35-10 at home in 2014 and 30-13 in Utah last season.Here are some other things to watch for as UConn hosts Virginia on Saturday:CAVALIER CONNECTIONSUConn has four coaches who either played or coached in Charlottesville. Diaco was a linebacker coach and special teams coordinator at Virginia from 2006-2008. Co-defensive coordinators Anthony Poindexter and Vincent Brown also were defensive position coaches there. But Poindextters ties go deeper.dddddddddddd He was an All-American safety for the Cavaliers and had number retired. UConn quarterback coach Wayne Lineburg also played for Virginia, where he was a backup signal caller on three bowl teams in the 1990s.THE NON-CONFERENCE CONFERENCEThis is the first of three non-conference games UConn will play against ACC opponents this season. Syracuse visits East Hartford next week and the Huskies travel to Boston College on Nov. 19. UConns seven other remaining games are all within the American Athletic Conference. The Huskies are 18-37 against current members of the ACC.LONG ROAD HOMEVirginia has logged more than 6,000 miles over the last week, travelling to Oregon and back to the East Coast. This is the first time since 2003 that the team has played back-to-back non-conference games on the road. Its also the first time UVa has played two non-conference games away from home in the same season since 2007.DUAL THREATUConn quarterback Bryant Shirreffs is the Huskies leading passer and rusher so far this season. Shirreffs set a single-game record for completion percentage against Navy, connecting on 23 of 26 passes (88.4 percent). Hes completed 39 of 49 throws this season for 401 yards, and run 33 times for 127 yards. Tailbacks Ron Johnson (98 yards) and Arkeel Newsome (53 yards) have combined for 151 yards on the ground.LOOKING FOR 100A Virginia win on a Saturday would be the 100th in coach Mendenhalls career. He was 99-43 during his 11-year tenure at BYU and is the 14th on the wins list for active FBS coaches with more than five years of experience.----AP Sports Writer Hank Kurz in Charlottesville, Virginia, contributed to this report. ' ' '