The Kovalchuk Saga: Is it finally over?

by Kevin Sellathamby on Aug 27, 2010 5:11 PM EDT in Devils Issues, Views & Analysis

5 MORE DAYS? HOW LONG ARE YOU PLANNING TO DRAG THIS OUT?

It's all come down to this. It's been over a month since Ilya Kovalchuk's 17 year $102 million contract was rejected by the NHL. Earlier today, Dmitry Chesnokov of Puck Daddy reported that the NHL is expected to accept the latest proposal by the Devils. Tom Gulitti later mentioned that the NHL hasn't yet completed the review, but the new contract addressed all the problems in the first contract. TSN's Darren Dreger also mentions that the term is shortened, and the structure of the contract has been changed as well. Darren Dreger reports that the new Deal is 15 years, $100 million dollars, with an AAV of $6.66 million/year. Ditto for Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, Tom Gulitti and ESPN's EJ Hradek. The new contract is 2 years shorter, and will pay Kovy $2 million less than the previous contract, and a contract with a cap hit that fits the number of the beast. The NHL will have 5 days (not 5 business days, meaning the weekends count) to review the contract. Craig Custance of The Sporting News doesn't expect a decision from the NHL today, so we're back to our favorite game again: the waiting game.

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Here's an interesting quote from Gulitti

It’s probably not professional, but I might cry if NHL rejects this contract.

I certainly can’t blame TG for it. Me? I will be too busy being indignant and possibly infuriated if it comes to that.

But I’m sure that after consulting with the NHL, this should be straight-forward. Right?

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Aug 27, 2010 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

i don’t see why it would be straight-forward, unless the structure was flat. 15 years is beyond what they would have liked to have seen, by most indications – another rejection seems pretty likely to me, without having seen the terms.

by Triumph44 on Aug 27, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope so. Considering that the structure of this deal wasn’t released to the public, no one knows how straight-forward this will be.

In Lou We Trust: Continuing a saga no one really cares about
If the quality of my posts begin to get better, it's because i'm doing steroids.

by Kevin Sellathamby on Aug 27, 2010 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Since it is technically filed I would imagine the details will become available shortly.

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

If this gets rejected and Kovy goes to the KHL I am going to hunt down Gary Bettman...

There is nothing quite as satisfying as out running security after you've punched out a Flyers fan!
"I was in the moment, and the moment said smack you." - Bruce Willis

by slackdog_rm on Aug 27, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Calm down, that’s not necessary.

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I might cry, too

while screaming and furiously throwing a jar of jelly at a picture of Gary Bettman. The league has seemed determined to force the Devils to take a huge cap hit to sign Kovy, and since this contract was not pre-approved by the League, I’m very nervous. A second signed contract rejection would be devastating. I really wish we had the exact terms of the deal, that would help me figure out whether or not this will go through.

by njdss4 on Aug 28, 2010 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions

HAHAHA

No use in predictions now. Its whatever the crazy NHL wants.

Against all odds, against all circumstance were you don't have a shot, you succeed
All you hear about is the past, the past... the past is the !@#$ing past, this is the present.
THIS IS TEMPORARY! A CHAMPIONSHIP IS PERMANENT
-Michael Strahan

by Willgfass on Aug 28, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I refuse to believe this will be accepted until the NHL says so themselves

Players Currently in My Doghouse: Brian Rolston

by thejerseydevil on Aug 27, 2010 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

for sure, the nhl has really been making us look really bad this summer, this might just take the cake…

by Zubrus on Aug 27, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Not that they ever seem to care, but the NHL doesn’t look great here either, especially if Kovy bolts to the KHL. It is amazing after all the time it took the CBA to be agreed upon there were still loopholes like this that the PA could exploit.

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm still very concerned

I don’t like the backpedaling in some of the information. The way this has unfolded I can just see Daly still being a douche. Sorry John, I know he was very good to respond to your emails but I think his comments are somewhat BS – clearly there are no “bright lines”, if there were, this would not have taken so long.

These guys are making up the rules as they go along from my view.

by Devilssection21fan on Aug 27, 2010 5:36 PM EDT reply actions

Conspiracy Theory

This contract will be better-but not much-forcing the NHL to reject it again. The PA files their grievance on the 31st, Bloch (as per the CBA) can be removed on 9/1. New arbitrator, and possibly Don Fehr in the fold. Game on.

(ok my next post will be based more on reality)

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

I would hope so. I’m sick of conspiracies and rumors at this point.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Aug 27, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Then I guess I won’t add an E5 to the above.

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Magic Number

What’s the magic number for the last 5 years on the tail of the contract? I would hope that as long as there is an average of at least $3MM in the last five years then it will be approved. Also, they to drop their NMC concept from Kovy Contract#1. The insertion of that and then the subsequent removal of it was problematic.

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 6:03 PM EDT reply actions

Assuming this one is accepted, and I think it will be, the $6.67 cap hit puts the team roughly $3M over the cap with 21 players signed.

I’ve been trying to figure out how the team gets back under the cap, and the only thing I see that makes sense is a Zubrus trade/salary dump (trade for picks and prospects)?

Thoughts?

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by fat_daddyo on Aug 27, 2010 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

Well, let’s get an acceptance by the NHL first. At this point (unless some deals are ready to go) I would suppose LL will wait until training camp to see what young players are ready and see what other team’s needs are. Salvador becomes a lot more attractive to a team should they lose someone to injury.

by Tom Stivali on Aug 27, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Salvador, interesting. Lou Lam is such a good GM that I feel sure he knows what the next dominoes to fall will be, but I’m trying to think along with him.

The team does have one extra D on the roster (per Capgeek, anyway) and if he left and no roster player came back, the club would go back to basically even with the cap. Only 20 players signed, which is the minimum, but the right balance of D and F.

So I guess they could then trade Zubie for a couple of younger guys and have an extra player and some cap room.

I’d take Salvador on the Caps, but I highly doubt the two teams would help each other out.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by fat_daddyo on Aug 27, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I can understand Salvador as a plan B to Willie Mitchell (as he signed with the Kings), and I agree that the Devils and Caps might not make a trade. The Sharks were also interested in Mitchell, so if Salvador went on the Market, they’d be interested. They’ve got the cap space too.

In Lou We Trust: Continuing a saga no one really cares about
If the quality of my posts begin to get better, it's because i'm doing steroids.

by Kevin Sellathamby on Aug 27, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

What about Tom Poti?

Salvador for Poti? Or is he a free agent?

Mathew Barnaby to Lyle Odelein: "Cornelius, as we like to call him, gets under your skin. Planet of the Apes. Look at him. Seriously. He looks like Cornelious."

Odelein to Barnaby: "He should take a look at his wife. She's God-awful to look at."

by RolliePollieKovy on Aug 27, 2010 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Tom Poti has a $3.5 million cap hit. The point of the deal was to SHED salary, not take on salary.

In Lou We Trust: Continuing a saga no one really cares about
If the quality of my posts begin to get better, it's because i'm doing steroids.

by Kevin Sellathamby on Aug 27, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Is Tom Poti really worth that amount, or did the Capitals over pay him? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the latter rather than the former.

by kellyn on Aug 27, 2010 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not really sure. I think he’s overpaid

In Lou We Trust: Continuing a saga no one really cares about
If the quality of my posts begin to get better, it's because i'm doing steroids.

by Kevin Sellathamby on Aug 27, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

O my mistake

Thought Poti was to make less then 1 million. OVERPAYMENT

Mathew Barnaby to Lyle Odelein: "Cornelius, as we like to call him, gets under your skin. Planet of the Apes. Look at him. Seriously. He looks like Cornelious."

Odelein to Barnaby: "He should take a look at his wife. She's God-awful to look at."

by RolliePollieKovy on Aug 27, 2010 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

got the right idea, though. i think salvador for erskine would be a decent deal for both sides. and i think washington is a team we can trade with.

we could then flip erskine elsewhere or waive him.

by Triumph44 on Aug 27, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll take Schultz. Plus 50!

Given he was on the ice with Ovechkin. ;)

Mathew Barnaby to Lyle Odelein: "Cornelius, as we like to call him, gets under your skin. Planet of the Apes. Look at him. Seriously. He looks like Cornelious."

Odelein to Barnaby: "He should take a look at his wife. She's God-awful to look at."

by RolliePollieKovy on Aug 27, 2010 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

And lets trade Zuby for Bobby Ryan hehe ;)

by devsfan9 on Aug 27, 2010 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d take Salvador on the Caps, but I highly doubt the two teams would help each other out.

If it means Kovalchuk on the Devils, I’d work a deal with the Capitals with Bryce Salvador headed south in a heartbeat. So long as the Devils are clearing cap space, not taking on any problems, and not obliged to pay through the nose for the privledge, I’m not very choosy about where he lands. Heck, about the only two teams I’d be unwilling to work with at this point are the Flyers and Rangers.

by acasser on Aug 27, 2010 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea besides the Rangers will just pick up overpaid devils when they become UFAs.

by devsfan9 on Aug 27, 2010 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re in luck, those two teams don’t have the cap space to take on $2.9 million right now. They don’t have the cap space to take on $1 million right now.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Aug 28, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m working under the assumption that Wade Redden will be waived and sent to Hartford. That clears a massive chunk of change from Our Hated Rivals’ salary cap — plenty to sign Marc Staal and enough left over to address other needs.

The Devils still wouldn’t make a deal with the Rangers after that…. but I’m not going to drop them into the “so strapped for cap space that they can’t make a move” category.

by acasser on Aug 28, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

very true great point

by Ahmad Bradshaw on Aug 29, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

If Lou is confident that Kovalchuk’s new contract will go through, he doesn’t need to wait until the league approves it to make a move. We might see something this weekend. I bet Lou’s got a GM or two out there that owes him a favor…

1995 - 2000 - 2003

by bergenline on Aug 27, 2010 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

Lou was confident about last contract.

So much so he threw a Kovy party. I’m pretty sure Lou will be less confident this time around.

Go Devils!
Numbers don't lie, Martin Brodeur

by S.Stevens on Aug 27, 2010 8:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly

but at least this time we haven’t heard him say “These shouldn’t be allowed.”

by njdss4 on Aug 28, 2010 3:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Is it me or has all this Kovalchcuk controversy has turned an LA kings fan blog into an anti-devil blog. (Go check out all the sad spite from the fools over at JFTC)

Devil for Life

by st.pattysdaymassacre26 on Aug 28, 2010 12:35 AM EDT reply actions

They don’t really seem to be anti-Devil they just appear to be a little bitter. They’ve had more Kovalchuk posts than we’ve had over here.

by C.J. Richey on Aug 28, 2010 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Definitely bitter

It’s just as we would probably being doing under opposite circumstances. We’d be talking about how we’re better off without him. I still don’t think Kovy fits the Devils’ style, especially with being so greedy for a $100M deal, but I can’t deny how much better the Devils’ offense will be with him.

by njdss4 on Aug 28, 2010 3:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t be bitter if he signed with another team, even after this whole fiasco. The Devils would be a contender in 10-11 season either way with the other pick ups during the off-season. Kovalchuck is a good player but he is no Zach Parise (IMHO).

Devil for Life

by st.pattysdaymassacre26 on Aug 28, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

He may not be a Zach Parise,

But so far, Zach is no Kovy in the goal scoring department.

Parise is basically guaranteed to get at least 35 goals (closer to 40 in the last two seasons). Good, and as we’ve seen, he has the potential to do better.

Kovy has passed 40 numerous times, 50 twice. While his defensive work may not be to the level of Parise’s (although in his time here I had few complaints watching him. Lemaire must have gotten to him), Parise’s goal scoring ability is yet to reach Kovy’s. That’s not to say it won’t/can’tm but two 40 goal scorers on two lines makes this team harder to contain and more dynamic.

by skly27 on Aug 28, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions