Vol. I, No. 85
The Devils are returning to Albany. The "little Devils", that is.
The AHL has issued approval for the Lowell Devils to relocate to Albany. The Albany River Rats, a minor league franchise of the Carolina Hurricanes, are moving to Carolina. They will become the Carolina Checkers. For the Devils and Canes, having a minor league team two hours away makes for easier personnel movement.
Ilya Kovalchuk has not yet signed with the Kontinental Hockey League in Europe, but his Russian agent reports that Ilya wants to play there. The tax regs make it much more attractive. Ilya has not announced any plans, but it is expected that he will not renew his contract with the Devils (or vice versa).
The Prudential Center is still standing, filled with non-sport events, while it waits for the Devils and Nets. The basketball team will be a temporary resident until a new arena is completed in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the Nets have announced the hiring of their new coach, Avery Johnson. He will meet with Mikhail Prokhorov on Sunday. The two are sure to make a powerful management team.
Prokhorov is probably also a Russian hockey fan, but above all else, he knows how to make money. Don't count on him buying the Devils, signing Kovalchuk, Gonchar, Malkin and Ovie, and then taking on Gary Bettman over the salary cap.
Mikhail is too smart for all of that meshugas. He has the rubles to spare for any of this, but knows that there is more money in NBA basketball than in NHL hockey, no matter how high this year's ratings have gone.
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