Olympics: Ice Hockey-Men's Qualifications-RUS vs NOR

Ilya Kovalchuk, shown playing for Russia during the 2014 Olympics, "retired" from the NHL in July of 2013.

(Winslow Townson/USA Today)

WOODBRIDGE — Ilya Kovalchuk's name resurfaces periodically whenever there is talk about the Devils' need to add a goal-scorer, but general manager Lou Lamoriello and owner Josh Harris confirmed the Russian winger has not entered the NHL club's thoughts since he left last summer to play in the KHL.



There is a good reason for that. All along there has been no chance of Kovalchuk's return.



"No," said Harris, who purchased the Devils along with David Blitzer just over a month after Kovalchuk "retired" from the NHL to go home to Russia.



Lamoriello stressed why Kovalchuk would be unable to come back before 2018-19.



"I'll answer that the best way you can. He cannot come back until he is 35. He's (31) now. You'd never look at someone coming back at 35 when he's (31)," the GM explained.



Kovalchuk left the Devils on July 11, 2013,three years into a 15-year, $100 million contract. He had 12 years and $77 million remaining when he signed a four-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.



Harris, Lamoriello and Scott O'Neil, CEO of the Devils and Prudential Center, met Thursday with NJ Advance Media editors and reporters. They addressed a variety of topics, including the financial difficulties plaguing the Devils when Harris and Blitzer bought the franchise from Jeff Vanderbeek.



While Kovalchuk's departure may have appeared to help the debt-riddled Devils, losing him had a negative impact on the team. They have missed the playoffs two straight seasons, including two of the four seasons Kovalchuk was with the club.



Harris spoke about missing the postseason in 2014, stressing that he still believes in Lamoriello.



"Lou and I are very different. We're different ages and we've had different experiences," Harris noted. "But I buy into his system and the reality is, stuff happens. It was a difficult situation before we got here. I don't know how much of that reflected itself.



"You had a lot of complexity around Kovalchuk and some other things. It was a disappointing season. I see it. I was unhappy. I didn't like being home watching the playoffs on TV. I wanted to be in the playoffs. That's not lost on me. At the same time, good people and good systems can have disappointing years. We're long term. We're focused on making this a great franchise over the long term."



Kovalchuk was signed by the Devils (twice, in fact), while Vanderbeek was still owner.

Vanderbeek is still officially a paid advisor to the team and has one more year on the club's payroll. Harris said the relationship is cordial.

"When I acquired the team, Jeff was the owner. Even in the situation the Devils were in, he was an important part of selling us the team," Harris said. "He's still, in some way I guess, an advisor to the team. I have a nice relationship with him and I wish him well. And he wishes the Devils well. I thick everyone has just moved on from the difficult time period that existed."

And Lamoriello's feelings?

"There is no animosity in my relationship with Jeff. None whatsoever," the GM said.

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Mattias Tedenby, who had planned to play in the KHL next season, was forced to change his plans.

The speedy winger will now play for HV 71 in the Swedish Elite League. He had signed with Lev Praha of the KHL back in June, but that club has been hit with financial woes.

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Harris on the Devils missing the playoffs two straight years: "In sports something goes wrong, what do you do? The coach gets fired or the GM gets fired. Someone has to be blamed, and I don't really buy into that. I look into things and assess them from my own point of view. I don't do things that I think are in the long run poor for a franchise because someone wants me to do something.



"I think people change too quickly in sports, as a general matter, because they want to show the public they're doing something. I don't think there is any change that needs to occur right now. It's a proven system. I've looked at it from the inside and I've looked at it from the outside. I like what's going on. Now it's about how can we make it better?"