er this week.And the Bills will have to do so without left tack

The New Jersey Devils announced on Thursday that forward Ilya Kovalchuk is retiring from the NHL. "After many conversations with Ilya over the past year on his desire to retire from the National Hockey League, Ilyas decision became official today," said general manager Lou Lamoriello in a statement. "On behalf of the entire organization, I wish Ilya and his family all the best in their future endeavors." Kovalchuk played 11 seasons in the NHL, including the last four with New Jersey. He retires with career NHL totals of 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points with 516 penalty minutes in 816 games. He added 11 goals and 16 assists in 32 career playoff games. "At first blush, (the news) is pretty shocking," said TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "And then you think about it for a moment and you say no, its not that shocking at all. We knew coming out of the lockout that there were all sorts of stories saying if he could have stayed in Russia with St. Petersburg he would have done that. He basically came back as a reluctant player after the lockout was over." Kovalchuk scored 89 goals and 112 assists for 201 points in 222 games, while adding eight goals and 11 assists in 23 playoff games with the Devils. He was traded to New Jersey by Atlanta on February 4, 2010. He was Atlantas first choice, and the first overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. "This decision was something I have thought about for a long time going back to the lockout and spending the year in Russia," said Kovalchuk in a team statement. "Though I decided to return this past season, Lou was aware of my desire to go back home and have my family there with me. The most difficult thing for me is to leave the New Jersey Devils, a great organization that I have a lot of respect for, and our fans that have been great to me." He represented Russia at three Olympic Winter Games, nine World Championships, one World Junior Championship and the 2004 World Cup. "Its sad," said Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates, who spent two years as an assistant with the Devils. "Its sad for our league. Thats one of our good players, were going to miss him." Kovalchuk signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils in 2010 and leaves $77 million behind with his retirement. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told TSN 1050 Radio on Thursday afternoon that the cap advantage of Kovalchuks contract was roughly $4 million over the first three years of his contract (as his first two years were significantly below his average annual salary). Daly added that the Devils will have to pay it back in cap charges over the remaining 12 years of the contract (roughly $300,000 a year). "The short-term pain of losing a significant asset on the team is a long-term financial gain, even though there is a quarter of a million dollar cap hit over the next 12 years," explained McKenzie. "In the grand scheme of things, thats chump change." It was speculated but not confirmed that Kovalchuk will continue his playing career in the Kontinental Hockey League. Reports from Russian news agencies indicated he will officially sign with SKA Saint Petersburg on Friday. Kovalchuk played for SKA during the lockout and made it clear several months ago that he would stay there if he could. Air Jordan Scarpe Saldi . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Air Jordan Scarpe Italia . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. http://www.airjordanscontate.it/ . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Scarpe Jordan Ingrosso . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Scarpe Jordan Uomo Scontate . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. There was plenty of blame to go around for season-opening losses by the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, but with three days between games and an AFC East rival ahead Thursday night in Week 2, each team turned the page quickly.Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman stood up and faced the music Monday afternoon, a day after his offense turned in one of the teams worst performances in recent memory.Buffalos total offense output of 160 yards was its worst in 10 years, and its lowest in a season opener since 1979. Roman accepted blame for a game plan that never got into sync.I will definitely take the blame myself, Roman said. I think I can do a better job putting us in positions to be successful.What was so odd about what took place in Buffalos 13-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens is that Roman never allowed the Bills to get into any rhythm.Buffalo did take the last meeting in the series -- and the past five -- to bump the Jets out of the playoffs in the final week of the 2015 season.We know each other pretty well, Jets coach Todd Bowles said. Theyre still tough. Rex is smart. He understands the game very well.The most glaring issue Week 1 for the Bills was the lack of deep throws dialed up for Tyrod Taylor, something in which the quarterback excelled last season in his first year as the starter. His longest pass was a 33-yarder on a broken play to tight end Charles Clay, and the only other pass that topped 10 yards was a 19-yarder to Sammy Watkins.We werent able to get into a rhythm and take those shots when we wanted to, Roman said. We got a little bit disjointed. We have to stay on the field. When we do that, were pretty darn good.There were five instances in which the Bills faced second-and-8 or longer where Roman called for a run, and none of those plays produced a first down. Only once did Buffalo recover and get points, and that was on its lone touchdown drive in the second quarter.The Jets sacked Andy Dalton seven times but the Cincinnati Bengals rattled away a 23-22 win in Week 1.The job that stares Rooman in the face is trying to get the offense on track against one of the best defensive lines in the NFL in Thursday nights home opener against the Jets (8:25 p.ddddddddddddm. ET). Baltimore was stout in the front seven and did a great job overpowering the Bills offensive line, and things will likely get tougher in this game against the likes of Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. Wilkerson, dealing with ankle and toe issues, has been limited in practice and is listed as questionable.They have so many good players up front, center Eric Wood said. All of us have to show up each play because any one of them can really embarrass you. Another tough test, and weve got to play better this week.And the Bills will have to do so without left tackle Cordy Glenn, who will miss the game with an ankle injury, while leading receiver Sammy Watkins (foot) is listed as questionable. Glenn played half the game last week before exiting. Cyrus Kouandjio took over and, like the rest of the line, struggled.To a man, the linemen are thrilled to be playing on Thursday night because it allowed them to quickly wash away that lousy performance in Baltimore. Wood said they were already working on the game plan on the flight back from Baltimore because of the time crunch, and he said it had a cleansing effect.I think it was a blessing in disguise to get that stinker out of the way and move on and have a great opponent like the Jets coming up, Bills guard Richie Incognito said. It was great to turn the page fast and get on to the Jets.We are a very prideful group and we know what were capable of and we didnt play up to our potential. When you have a poor showing like that early in the season it leaves a poor taste in your mouth. So were coming out extra motivated. Were fired up.Thursdays contest is the 111th regular-season meeting between the teams. Buffalo leads the series 59-51. ' ' '