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.Black Friday Shoes China . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Fake Black Friday Shoes .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. https://www.shoesblackfriday.com/ . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Black Friday Shoes Store .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Cheap Black Friday Shoes . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes.(STATS) -- The top seven teams had been the same in the STATS FCS Top 25 for three straight weeks, but there was significant change on Monday, led by Sam Houston State becoming the new No. 1 team in the nation.The reshuffling up top came after one of the bigger Saturdays of the regular season, when top-ranked North Dakota State and fifth-ranked Chattanooga both lost for the first time.Sam Houston (6-0) marched on as one of two unbeaten FCS teams. The Southland Conference power gained 113 of the 165 first-place votes in the national media poll.Each of the first five teams gained first-place votes. Jacksonville State and Eastern Washington moved up one spot each to No. 2 and 3, respectively, while North Dakota State tumbled to fourth and The Citadel, the nations other unbeaten team, rose to No. 5.Sam Houston last held the No. 1 ranking on Sept. 7, 2015.The kids have played very well and it is a great honor, third-year coach K.C. Keeler said. But I think this team is mature enough to understand that No. 1 in October isnt the final destination. Its just part of the journey and the bulls-eye on our back just got a little bit bigger.Sam Houston leads the FCS in points and offensive yards per game, fueled by junior quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe and his national-best 26 touchdown passes. The Bearkats defeated Abilene Christian 48-21 this past weekend to remain in first place in the Southland.Up next is a trip to Nicholls for a Bearkats team that has its sights on winning the national championship after reaching the national finals or semifinals in four of the past five seasons.Jacksonville State (5-1) knocked Sam Houston out of last years semifinals. The Gamecocks beat Austin Peay 34-14 this past weekend to remain in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. They gained 19 first-place votes in the poll.Eastern Washington (5-1) had a bye this past weekend. The Big Sky Conference power, whose lone loss is to North Dakota State in overtime, gained 17 first-place votes.North Dakota State (5-1) fell to rival South Dakota State 19-17 to falll to No.dddddddddddd. 4. The Bison, who have won the last five Missouri Valley Conference and FCS national titles, gained 11 first-place votes.The other five first-place votes went to The Citadel (6-0), which beat Chattanooga 22-14 to take over first place in the Southern Conference. The No. 5 ranking is the Bulldogs highest since the 1992 season-ending poll.Richmond (6-1) claimed the No. 6 spot after a shutout of Villanova and South Dakota State (4-2) rose four spots to No. 7 after its big win over North Dakota State. James Madison (6-1), Charleston Southern (3-2) and Montana (5-1) completed the Top 10.Chattanooga (6-1) dropped six spots to No. 11 and was followed by Western Illinois (5-1), Youngstown State (5-1), North Carolina A&T (5-1), Eastern Illinois (5-2), Villanova (5-2), Cal Poly (4-2) and Coastal Carolina in a tie for 17th place, North Dakota (5-2) and Central Arkansas (5-1).Rounding out the Top 25 were Samford (5-1) at No. 21, Grambling State (4-1), Albany (4-2), Stony Brook (4-2) and Tennessee State (5-1). Stony Brook returned to the rankings after appearing earlier this season and Tennessee State returned for the first time since Oct. 6, 2014.Harvard and Northern Iowa dropped from the Top 25 following losses.The FCS conferences with the most selections were CAA Football with five, the Big Sky and Missouri Valley with four each, and the OVC with three.A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the STATS FCS Top 25. In the voting, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.The Top 25 is released every Monday afternoon during the regular season, except for Sunday morning, Nov. 20, prior to the selection of the 24-team FCS playoff field. A final Top 25 will follow the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. ' ' '