The world-class player for the New Jersey Devils will be sacked.

The world-class player for the New Jersey Devils will be sacked.

In hockey, retirement is inevitable. A few athletes are still active in their 40s. Some people pursue their careers well into their late 30s. Then there are the professions that are terminated due to incapacity or inefficiency. A player quitting in his 20s is always a hard story to believe, but regrettably, these things do happen.

The exact date of Jaromir Jagr’s retirement is unknown. He isn’t on this list because of this. Jagr hasn’t shown any symptoms of slowing down with Kladno despite being 52 years old. Some unexpected players, though, might announce their retirement this offseason.

Kovalchuk, Ilya
First up on our list, we have a shady name. Perhaps the most despised player in New Jersey Devils history is Ilya Kovalchuk. Both Bobby Holik and Scott Gomez signed big-time deals with the New York Rangers, the Devils’ main rivals, after leaving the team. They are not, however, nearly as despised as Ilya Kovalchuk.

Everyone is aware of the reason. In an absurd 15-year deal, Kovalchuk committed to staying in New Jersey with the Devils until the end of his playing days. It was anticipated that Kovalchuk would be lured away from the Los Angeles Kings and the KHL with the $100 million offer. The lockout then took place in 2012. After playing in the Stanley Cup Final, Kovalchuk’s NHL career ended due to a delayed start to the season, which allowed him to experience KHL activity and possibly some unsavoury chats.

Technically speaking, Kovalchuk had already “retired,” which is how he was able to avoid being signed by the Devils. It wasn’t until he aged 35 that he joined the NHL again. Then he headed back to the KHL. It feels like it’s almost over this time. At 41, Kovalchuk is an old man. It’s rumored that his career is coming to an end. We doubt that a single Devils supporter will cry. Ironically, Kovalchuk will still be paid for by the Devils even after he formally retires.