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The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male
Ilya Kovalchuk’s 17-year, $102 million contract was rejected by the NHL late last night because it “circumvented the league’s salary cap.”

Here are a pair of similar contracts that were signed last season. The NHL investigated each contract, before eventually approving both. The league cited that it could not prove that the contracts were not agreed to upon in good faith.

Note: Figures courtesy nhlnumbers.com

Marian Hossa (Blackhawks): 12-years, $53 million

Contract Breakdown: Years 1-7, $7.9 million; Year 8, $4 million; Years 9-10, $1 million; Years 11-12, $750,000

Annual Cap Hit: $5.275 million

Age When Contract Ends: 42

* * *

Chris Pronger (Flyers): 7-years, $34.45 million

Contract Breakdown: Years 1-2, $7.6 million; Year 3, $7.2 million; Year 4, $7 million; Year 5, $4 million; Years 6-7, $525,00

Annual Cap Hit: $4.92 million

Age When Contract Ends: 42

* * *

Roberto Luongo (Canucks): 12-years, $64 million

Contract Breakdown: Year 1 (2010-11), $10 million; Years 2-8, $6.7 million; Year 9, $3.3 million; Year 10, $1.6 million; Years 11-12: $1 million

Annual Cap Hit: $5.33 million

Age When Contract Ends: 43

* * *

Pronger's deal did not kick in until he was 35, which imposes the "35-and Older Clause" of the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"When a player age 35 or older signs a multi-year contract, his average salary is counted against the team's salary cap during every year of the contract, even if the player retires before the contract is up."
Filed Under:   kovalchuck   new jersey devils  
July 21, 2010 2:54 PM ET | Delete
What happens if the flyers put Pronger in the minors before the last 3 years and he retires then? Will his cap hit still be there?
July 21, 2010 3:07 PM ET | Delete
I still don't see how Pronger's contract is similar to the others. Yes, it's frontloaded as far as actual compensation goes, but the cap hit remains whether he retires or not, since it's a 35 contract. That's a big deal. In the other cases, if the player retires, he still gets his money and the team gets their cap space back. I think that's the key difference.
July 21, 2010 6:16 PM ET | Delete
None of those are as bad as the one of Kovalchuk, wich is why it did not pass.
July 21, 2010 6:52 PM ET | Delete
uhhh .. im pretty sure that if a player retires they dont get their money regardless of contract type... also ... the 35 contracts .. if they retire their cap hit still applies ???
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Blog Archive

10 On Kovi free agency
11 KOVI IN LA
12 KOVI SAGA GOES ON
12 IS KOVI USING THE DEVILS TO UP HIS PURSE????
12 WOW The Devils Make A Great Move!!!!
12 John MacLean is hands on as Devils open prospects camp
12 Is Ilya Kovalchuk moving closer to signing with Los Angeles?
13 Has Kovalchuck lost his footing with New Jersey Devils Fans?
13 Elias understands Kovalchuk's dilemma
14 Elias excited for what future holds
15 Lots of talk but nothing to announce yet on Kovalchuk
15 Kovalchuk Looking Less and Less Likely for New Jersey Devils
15 Kovalchuk desperately wants to be the highest paid Russian!!
15 Devils don't offer veteran center Eric Chouinard a contract
15 Anton Volchenkov: Devils were my second choice
15 MacLean meets the A-Train
16 Are Ilya Kovalchuk's salary demands tied to Alex Ovechkin?
16 Newly-signed Tyler Eckford wants to play his way into a job
16 Devils' World Won't End if Kovy Bypasses Newark
18 Kings believed they had a 50-50 chance of signing Kovinuts
19 Brian Rolston knows that changes are coming for Devils
19 Devils' signing of Ilya Kovalchuk puts a smile on John Mac!!
19 Dainius Zubrus: signing Ilya Kovalchuk was to shake up the Devils
19 What might happen next?????
20 Who Will Go???
20 Which Contracts Will Lou Dump Now?
20 Left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, there is significance to #17
21 Once Kovalchuk's deal is settled, attention to Zach!!!
21 NHL doesn't believe Ilya Kovalchuk will stay untill Age 44
21 contracts similar to Ilya Kovalchuk's deal with Devils
21 NHL Players' Assocation issues statement On Kovi
21 Lamoriello statement on Kovalchuk signing
21 ’t win Ilya Kovalchuk contract showdown
22 It's in hands of Ilya Kovalchuk and union
22 NHL might have picked wrong fight
22 LA Kings Dean Lombardi backs up Kovalchuck Contract
24 NHLPA to file grievance
25 The Kovi Saga
25 NHL prosecution merely a temper tantrum
26 Devils wait for players' union to file grievance
26 contract could trigger a war between Devils and NHL
27 Decision on Kovalchuk is expected nexty week
28 Kovalchuk contract could be restructured by arbitrator
28 Yann Danis Going to KHL
28 Mark Fraser Signed....
29 Newly-signed Mark Fraser vows to be 'mean, physical Player
30 Arbitrator has been agreed upon
30 Kovalchuck Hearing?????
31 Arbitrator - Richard Bloch a NEw Jersey Native
31 Association agree on arbitrator to rule on Ilya Kovalchuk
03 Kovalchuk will attend contract hearing
03 Devils will wear retro jerseys March 18 vs. Washington
04 D day for Kovi and the Devils
05 Roller Hockey at the Jersey Shore
06 Jim Dowd Shore High School Hockey Game set for Sunday
06 Is this is a set-up between Lou and Gary???
09 The arbitration decision coming today
11 Translated article from soviet sports kovalchuck
11 Devils name Rick Kowalsky head coach at Albany
12 HEATS ON!!!!
12 Where do the Devils stand in the market???
16 Today might be the day
16 90 million over 10-13 for kovi?
16 Russian News Paper Reports Devs and Kovi....
17 Contract submitted???
18 Another Quiet day in the Kovi Front
19 Devils still waiting to see what happens with Kovy
19 “Status Quo” On Ilya Kovalchuk And Devils
20 Devils After Marc-Andre Bergeron???
20 Kovi wants nothing to do with the KHL
20 Elias on the Move???
21 ELIAS TO THE ATLANTA TRASHERS????
21 Questions Surround Devils in Wake of Kovalchuck saga
22 Brian Burke Testified Against Ilya Kovalchuk Contract???
22 Devils Bringing Hockey Back To Atlantic City
23 Patrik Elias could be moved to sign fellow winger Zach Paris
23 Today could be the Day!!!
23 News 1130 out of Vancouver Reports on Kovi
23 Possible contract for Kovalchuck
23 Devils add more youth to the roster
23 EJHradek_ESPN Reports NJ Devils meet with the NHL
24 News 12 New Jersey Reports on Kovi Contract...
24 Bryce Salvador to Stars...
25 NHL 2 Devils 0.....
25 Lamoriello not frustrated by Kovalchuk process
25 Commish denies report of deal rejection
26 – NYPOST.com
26 Looks Like KHL is out of the question
27 Could this be finalyy over???
30 Devils could part with Zajac if Kovalchuk stays
30 ’ contract, but Kovalchuk retires
31 ’s official decision on Kovalchuk’s TODAY!!!!!
31 Niemi a Devil?????