Even in the offseason, hockey fans have plenty to watch and pay attention to. Big name players are being signed and traded so fast that even I can’t keep up.
Recently, Ilya Kovalchuk was the biggest fish on the free agent sea. However, he is now signed up with the New Jersey Devils for the next 17 years, for a whopping $102 million. This is the longest deal in NHL history! Kovalchuk’s already 27, and if you do the math, another 17 years will put him at 44. That’s pretty old for a NHL player (though Chelios is still going strong).
Mikko Koivu has signed up for another 7 years with the Minnesota Wild, while Simon Gagne, who was a high-scoring Flyer, is moving to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gagne has only ever played for Philly, but he says he’s happy about the switch and is looking forward to the future. Evgeni Nabokov, the former All-Star goalie of the San Jose Sharks, is playing hockey in Russia because San Jose is not offering him a new deal.
For more stories on NHL trades, visit the Calgary Herald website. Comment on these trades below, and who you think benefited the most!
