As a Devils fan, I'm fine with Kovy's decision to return. I don't know about any precedent, but if the NHL can't compete for Russian players - it has nothing but itself (and its mismanagement of the league) to blame. More interesting to me is the decision from Glendale to give the Coyotes a guaranteed $15M a year when the prospective buyers have an out-clause after five years. Looks like a relocation in the making.
Bettman knows his legacy is expansion and to a finer tuned point, Phoenix. All of the fans and analysts who wonder why he won't admit Phoenix was a failure; that team will stay there until city council rides them out on a rail. The villain in Phoenix is not a man protecting his legacy, but the city council, who decided to keep giving the team money to stay in a place that obviously doesn't want them.
well Alfie is set to break his silence in Ottawa today at 11:00. Should be interesting to hear his thoughts. Whatever his reasons I wish him well.