from the CP at CBC,

Most tend to believe it's an isolated incident, with two agents and one former agent and general manager singling out the once-in-a-generation circumstances that led to Kovalchuk leaving and the Devils permitting him to go without keeping his contract in place or preventing him from signing with a KHL team.

"I don't think it's an epidemic or anything like that," agent Mark Gandler said. "I think each person makes his decision based on the circumstances that he's in, based on his environment, his family, his upbringing."

When Kovalchuk decided to file his voluntary retirement papers, he all but blocked himself from returning to the NHL. Coming back would require him to sit out a year or get approval from all 30 teams.

"I think these are very unique circumstances," said agent J.P. Barry, who represents Malkin. "How many players would want to remove the NHL option from their future? Because by doing this voluntary retirement, they've essentially done that."

Malkin did not want to do that, and he had a choice to do so in the near future. The Pittsburgh star's current contract expired after the 2013-14 season, and Barry said there were multiple offers from KHL teams for Malkin's services.

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