DEVELOPING: Kovy Deal Finally Approved, League Changes Rule

((HT: TSN/Dreger))

The NHL and the NHL Players' Association have reached an agreement on an amendment to the rules that govern long term contracts- like the ones that marquee players like Hossa, Pronger, Savard, Luongo, and now Ilya Kovalchuk have agreed to and signed.

As of late Friday afternoon, the league kept the pay window open past the end of normal business hours so the I's and T's could get figured out on Kovy's deal.

The new 15-year, $100 million package will be approved once all of the new agreements and paperwork between the league and NHLPA are signed and lawyered over in the appropriate manners.

According to the powers that are, those guy's contracts that front-loaded the deal and have people making money until they're forty are officially over.

Or so they say...
More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: Arbitrator: Try again Kovy and Devils!

Ilya Kovalchuk/Courtesy: jennifer brown/star-ledger

Well, that didn't last long. Ilya Kovalchuk is a free agent again. An arbitrator ruled the 17-year, $102 million dollar contract that he signed in July, invalid. The NHL had rejected the heavily front-loaded contract saying it was just a way to circumvent the salary cap. The arbitrator agreed.

More, from NHL.com's Dan Rosen RIGHT HERE

The suspicion is that the Devils will just come up with a new twist and offer Kovy another deal. Though the Kings and a couple other teams were seriously interested and offered solid bids for his services, none could compare to what the Devils came up with.

This should be a fun story to follow...though we suspect we know the outcome. We'll see.

The NHLPA doesn't like that the NHL doesn't like Kovy's contract...

File this under: You knew it was coming!

The NHL's player association (union), has filed a grievance with the NHL because they had a problem with Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year contract with the New Jersey Devils.

More from NJ.com RIGHT HERE

TSN breaks down the logic RIGHT HERE

((Ilya Kovalchuk//File Photo))

The reason this is an issue is much simpler than the language in the accompanying stories. The league desperately wants to stop the trend of heavily front loading contracts to get around the salary cap. The problem is, they've already allowed several similar ones.

There is a lot of speculation that this is the first of many shots across several bows leading to a re-negotiation of the leagues collective bargaining agreement next year. Either way, Kovy may or may not be a free agent again...this year, we are just going to have wait until the lawyers make tons of money to have their say.

Here is what Kovy did at the end of last year for the Devils. Thanks You Tube:

DEVELOPING STORY: NHL rejects Kovalchuk's contract

Well, maybe the contract was as absurd as it sounded. It appears as though the NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million dollar deal with the New Jersey Devils.

They say the contract is a work-around the NHL's salary cap.

The contract was pretty frontloaded, the 1st 10-years were for $95 million and then $1 million more for each of the last seven years.

More from TSN.CA RIGHT HERE

((Oh Kovy...You Devil!//Courtesy: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images))

We honestly have no idea what this means. It could mean everyone is starting over from scratch or it could just mean they need to re-word it. Either way...a very interesting development.

2220 UPDATE: All the HQ has to say is that they better look at every other long-term contract out there, because his isn't the first and it won't be the last.

It's just the one that thumbs its nose at the salary cap the most... and most recently...

The deal can be restructured and re-filed...

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, via his Twitter feed, says "NHL deems Kovy contract "a retirement contract". Says it "artificially drops cap hit". Also states its too overloaded the first 10 yrs..."

TSN's Darren Dreger, via his Twitter feed, says something we all saw with this particular elephant in the room:

Kovy's deal was rejected because the NHL doesn't believe either the player or the Devils expected he would be playing near end of deal.

Kovy rejection was based on what may be a classic case of an artificial lowering of the AAV. They can refile, or the PA can grieve...

If a grievance is to be filed, the NHLPA has to do it within the next five days. The contract is dead until an arbitor decides the end result... which will, probably, head for some kind of appeals process after that.

2310 UPDATE: OSG Sports asked TSN's James Duthie about any kind of appeals process. His answer is that arbitration in this kind of a case is binding, and that if the NHL won the case, the contract would have to be adjusted to "conform to the requirements of the CBA."

The issue, once again, with the Kovalchuk deal is... well, it just looks funny. That, for all intents and purposes, is the league's defense. There isn't anything written in the CBA that says what the Devils ((or, for that matter, what the Blackhawks with Marian Hossa)) is in violation of the CBA, but the league thinks that the deal just "looks funny."

Technically, the Devils can come back with a Chris Chelios-based defense if anyone is squawking about paying a 44-year-old Kovalchuk anything in the 17th year of the deal.

So there...

Duthie and his Twitter feed are here.

Kovy Resigns With Devils... Officially... But 17 YEARS???

Not that this surprises the HQ in any way once the Kings pulled out- not once but twice...

From Jay Grossman, Kovy's agent...
“Ilya is excited to be continuing his career with New Jersey and knows first-hand the team’s dedication and commitment to winning.”

No duh...

Kovalchuk has reportedly signed a 17-year contract worth $100 million, according to FOSG Scott Burnside over at ESPN. The contract is the longest in NHL history, topping Rick DiPietro's 15-year deal with the New York Islanders.

The team announced the move Monday morning, and a press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

More when we know more... other than the idea that this thumbs the nose at the collective bargaining agreement more than any other contract in the history of the CBA

Here's what the Devils are keeping...
((HT: RDS/mikeishockey2))


2100 UPDATE: The Fan590 in Toronto has the value of the deal at US$102-million, but here's the fun part...

Kovalchuk will earn $6 million each of the next two seasons, $11.5 million for the following five seasons, $10.5 million in the 2017-18 season, $8.5 million for the 2018-19 season, $6.5 million in 2019-20, $3.5 million in 2020-21, $750,000 the following season, and $550,000 for the final five years of the contract.

Jay Grossman called into "Prime Time Sports" on the Fan with Bobcat and John Shannon on Monday afternoon to discuss...

Lou Lamoriello continues being a genius...

DEVELOPING STORY: Kovy Down To 2 Teams

((HT: SI.com))

PM UPDATE: Ilya Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, released the following statement on his Twitter account Monday evening...

Ilya Kovalchuk choices have been narrowed down, details to be finalized but no announcement tonight....

This counteracts a report in the New York Post by Mark Everson, that free agent Kovalchuk would re-sign today with the New Jersey Devils. A source told the Post that the deal will be seven years for US$60 million.

The Kovalchuk derby was down to two teams -- the Devils and New York Islanders -- after the Los Angeles Kings announced their offer had been rejected. The Islanders were reportedly offering $100 million over 10 years, but the source says the offer was not a formal bid, and the Kings didn't go that high on their bid either.

Kovalchuk turned down Atlanta's offer of $100 million for 12 years prior to his being traded to New Jersey on February 4th. The KHL has also reportedly shown interest, although the report in the Post suggests that the dollar figure is only $9 million-per year for four years.

Here's what Lou Lamioriello is keeping should he sign...
((HT: NHL/MSG+/DevilsHQ))


The HQ had long since known that the Devils, and Lamoriello, like to work the bushes for all their contract and trade negotiations...

Re-upping Kovalchuk would be no different... and not a surprise. The Islanders are not in a position to win consistently, the Kings could contend in the West, but the Devils give him the best chance to advance long-term.

But, as pointed out by one of our readers down in the Comments section unless there's some serious capology going on, the terms would put the Devils over the 10-percent marker on the cap figure of US$59.4-million. Some other deals would have to be jettisoned for the Kovalchuk deal to go down as structured...

Oh Kovy, You Devil: The Return

Admittedly, the sight is quite odd...

Atlanta Thrashers play-by-play guy and FOSG Dan Kamal interviewed New Jersey Devils' winger Ilya Kovalchuk about what the vibe is like coming to the place where he was the face of a franchise for eight seasons...

The word Kovy used was "weird."

And, yeah, it was weird seeing someone who, literally, grew up in front of you turn into a hired gun for Devils GM Lou Lamoriello. Who is that guy after Jamie Langenbrunner...???

Yup... Number 17 is in road whites...
((the line-up card is your pictured evidence, thanks to me))

Much like Dany Heatley, whether it was in Ottawa or San Jose road sweaters, Kovalchuk got booed every time he touched the puck. And where Heatley is considered something of a quitter by the fan base in Atlanta, Kovalchuk is a Benedict Arnold-type. Kovy was offered the largest contract in the history of the franchise ((10 years and US$100M)) that would have crippled the team financially under its own budget constraints, and Ilya stil said "No."

Although the HQ thinks that it was more Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, turning the team down more than his player.

So, tonight was the return... sitting on the right-hand bench for a change.
((Philips Arena crow's nest view pictured, again thanks to me))

And it was a game that the Thrashers needed far more than the Devils. If the Devils won, they would be a step up for the #2 Seed in the east, while the Thrash were trying just to close the gap and make the playoffs to be the sacrificial 8-seed to Washington.

The Thrashers showed they are who they are- disappointingly average- and the Devils are who they are- the #2 seed in the East. A microcosm of the season happened in the second period, a Devils turnover gave Maxim Afinogenov a breakaway opportunity. Instead of skating in and shooting, he put on the brakes in the slot in front of Martin Brodeur and tried a centering pass. It was deflected and the opportunity, probably the Thrashers best on the night, was out the door...

"It was a different experience," Kovalchuk admitted afterward, "but it was fun, yeah." He expected to be booed by the crowd, but he also said it happens that way all the time.

Brodeur picks up his 110th career shutout and 600th career win in the 3-0 final.

"It was nice to have won the game," Kovalchuk added. "I think we may have eliminated them tonight, but it's all about winning. It was nice to see friends and ex-teammates, but it was nice to win."

And that's the difference and the bottom line as to why 17 had to leave...
Salary cap and the size of the wallet be damned...

Here's your highlights...
((HT: FS South/NHL))

Oh, Kovalchuk You Devil: The First Game Without...

So, the deal was done... and a town was less than pleased...

The HQ could have told you a year ago that Ilya Kovalchuk would not remain as an Atlanta Thrasher after his current deal would expire. He was, according to reports from both sides in the negotiation, offered either 3 years/$30M, 5 years/$50M, 7 years/$70M, and/or 12 years/$101M to stay.

The agent for Ilya Kovalchuk, Jay Grossman, said the Thrashers dilly-dallied in talks and really didn't seem serious. The Thrashers GM, Don Waddell, said he tried, but couldn't mortgage his future in one player to put the team in financial peril after the year was finished.

11 players are under contract for the 2010-2011 season for a total of $28M toward a salary cap. If Kovy would have signed for a $10M price tag that meant, for all intents and purposes, Waddell would have had only $16M for upwards of 15 players to have under contract later on.

It, simply, couldn't have been done unless others were moved in the process in an effort to go "younger and cheaper." But the team carries on as a .500 club without any real offensive punch or name to hang your proverbial hat on to. The first game out was a game against division rival Florida ((pictured at Philips Arena, thanks to me))

The team had to escape Washington DC first to even make the game happen. They drove to Richmond, Virginia, flew out of there and made it back to Atlanta by 5:15 for a 7:00 puck drop. That wasn't gonna happen, so the game was pushed back to 7:45.

The team was chippy, tired, and cranky and so were the fans. Most of the fans blame Kovalchuk in this one instead of the front office ((pictured, sweaters adjusted to fit public opinion of some, thanks to me again)).

The sweater contingent was mostly un-adjusted, but you had some who let their feelings known. They would take masking tape and cross out Kovalchuk's name in favor of other things.

Admittedly, it was an odd feeling seeing Johnny Oduya and Niclas Bergfors take Kovalchuk's place- which is one helluva misnomer.

His place can't be taken...

But the team has a tall order in front of itself for the season and time to follow. There is no star, short of a trade at the deadline to bring one in, to put the team on his back.

Unless, the Thrashers win a lot of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-1 games down the stretch it'll be a long ride. And the team's future in the city hangs in the balance. Regardless of what people think and where they assign blame... there's more pressure now than when Marian Hossa was dealt away.


Fans in Atlanta will support a winner, and in the interim, will apparently root for a team who won't quit, and will give their best effort. It's reminiscent of the first years of the franchise when a team was willed to succeed when they were clearly outgunned night after night.

But it's year ten now, and not year two or three...

If the efforts aren't made upstairs now, the team won't work downstairs.

At that point, the "For Sale" and "Moving Sale" signs will quickly follow. The NHL gave the town a second chance after the Flames left for Calgary. There will be no third chance if the team has to move to Winnipeg, Hamilton, or any other place that can give the team a better home than the one they're in now...

Oh, Kovalchuk You Devil: Game One, Two Assists...

((HT: NHL/Rogers Sportsnet))

Wearing his familiar number 17 the Newest New Jersey Devil, Ilya Kovalchuk ((pictured picking up two points last night in two ways, thanks Saed Hindash/Newark Star-Ledger)), was paired with Jamie Langenbrunner and Dainius Zubrus for his coming out party against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The end result: two assists in the 4-3 win. The Devils were, actually, down 3-1 with five minutes to go in regulation. They also scored two goals in the final minute-and-a-half for the come-from-behind win.

Here's your highlights, and by the way, the Atlanta Thrashers lost to the Washington Capitals 5-2 and abandoned their morning skate Saturday as they get ready for a back-to-back. Their opponent, provided they can get out of the tri-state area, is the Florida Panthers at what is left of Philips Arena.



Did you notice the smattering of "True Blue" 17's in the audience...???
The HQ did, and we can't be happier for Kovy if he gets to make a run for a Cup.

Kovalchuk You Devil

****BREAKING NEWS****

Well, color me and most others surprised, the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes is over. The story just crossed that Kovalchuk was traded to New Jersey for Defenseman John Oduya, Forwards Niclas Bergfors and Patrice Cormier and a first round draft pick.

The Story from TSN Canada RIGHT HERE

((Ilya Kovalchuk is moving to the swamps of New Jersey//Courtesy: Scott Audette/Getty Images/NHL Images))

Kovalchuk, who had reportedly turned down a 7 year, $70 million deal and a 12 year $101 million dollar deal, will probably be just a rental for New Jersey, currently second in the Eastern Conference with 72 points.

By contrast, the Thrashers have some 'splainin to do to the fans back in Atlanta. They now, no longer have a "Franchise" level player to sell to the fanbase. The team, who has only made the playoffs once in its 11 year history has been flirting with the 8th position in the East all season. Making the playoffs might ease some of the concern, but right now, it looks like it will be the same old story for a team that may or may not have a long term future in a city which is not really interested in its product.

Here's coverage of the Kovalchuk trade, thanks to our friends at TSN...
Rod Smith tosses to Darren Dreger...

Statement From Don Waddell On Kovalchuk

From the Atlanta Thrashers their own selves...

Ahem... quote...

"Our goal from the start of this negotiating process was to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term contract. During the process, Kovy affirmed his desire to be a Thrasher for life. We’ve spent several months exploring scenarios with Kovy and his agent to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, and offered many lucrative packages in an attempt to meet his financial objectives. Unfortunately, we’ve reached an impasse and at this point he has declined all of our proposals and we can’t reasonably go any higher.

Ultimately, we offered Kovy more than $101 million over 12 years, which would have been the highest contract signed by an impending unrestricted free agent in the history of the league. If accepted, this contract would have been the second highest offer ever to any NHL player. We also met his desire to be the highest paid player based on average annual salary with a separate offer of 7 years at $10M per year ($70M). This offer is $0.5M higher per year than any other player.

If we went beyond these offers, we would not be able to retain the young players on our roster when it came time to sign them, or invest in other top tier players needed to assemble a truly competitive team. Therefore, we are aggressively exploring all of our options as we move forward."

And if that doesn't amplify the idea of him being moved... nothing else will...
Paging Tom Gagliardi, and the cities of Winnipeg, and Hamilton...

Anyone...??? Anyone...???