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"NJ DEVILS BUZZ"

The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male

contract could trigger a war between Devils and NHL

Source NJ.com


Are NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello now at war?

Considering that Lamoriello has been a key figure in Bettman's past labor battles against the players, such a war seemed unlikely not too long ago.


But the Devils' decision to hold a press conference last Tuesday announcing the signing of a 17-year, $102 million contract by Ilya Kovalchuk, even though the team was aware that the league would reject the deal, was the first sign of strife.

The grievance filed today by the NHL Players' Association in an effort to convince an arbitrator to approve the longest contract in NHL history, was expected. Nevertheless, it sure doesn't smooth relations between the Devils and the league.

If the union, Kovalchuk and the Devils receive a favorable ruling-- 48 hours after an arbitrator is selected by both sides-- the matter will be over, except perhaps for some hard feelings.

But if the arbitrator rules in favor of the league, thereby rejecting the contract and declaring Kovalchuk an unrestricted free agent, there could be even more fallout.

The NHL-- Bettman or deputy commissioner Bill Daly-- could fine the Devils between $1 million and $5 million and the total of the fine would count against the team's payroll cap. If Bettman wanted to make a point, the Devils could also lose a draft pick or picks.

So the Devils have a lot riding on the arbitrator's decision. They could still keep Kovalchuk, who clearly wants to play for the club, by restructuring the deal.

That is, if they have enough room under the cap after Bettman issues a fine.

If an arbitrator were in place, the ruling would come within the next 48 hours. That isn't the case here. When a hearing does take place, the arbitrator will conduct interviews with the partipants-- Lamoriello, Kovalchuk, agent Jay Grossman, league officials and others.

The Devils believe they felt the effects of going against the league via a legal route in the Jim Schoenfeld/NHL on-ice officials incident during the 1988 playoffs for years to come. They can only hope this matter doesn't turn out even more damaging.