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The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male
Source NJ.com

An independent ruling on whether Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract with the Devils is valid will be made late next week now that the NHL Players' Association and the league have agreed on an arbitrator to hear the grievance filed by the union.

Two NHL sources, neither with the authority to speak about the arbitrator or scheduled hearing, confirmed that the two sides agreed on a person to make the ruling. Although the league and union have agreed on the arbitrator, date of the hearing and city in which it will take place, the sources were not willing to reveal that information.

The hearing, which could begin by mid-week, will include members of the NHLPA and the league to present arguments. The NHL rejected Kovalchuk's contract on the grounds it circumvents the payroll cap by stretching it out to the longest in NHL history. In the 17th year, Kovalchuk will be 44 years old.

It was not revealed who will be called at the hearing, but it could include GM Lou Lamoriello, owners Jeff Vanderbeek and Mike Gilfillan, cap expert Steve Pellegrini, player agent Jay Grossman, Kovalchuk, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and commissioner Gary Bettman.

The feeling by many around the NHL, including officials from other teams who did not want to be quoted, believe the Players' Association will win the case because the league does not have a strong enough argument for rejecting the contract while others were allowed to stand.

If the arbitrator rules against the league's rejection, the contract will immediately be honored and filed. If the arbitrator rules the rejection was valid, Kovalchuk will be an unrestricted free agent and the Devils could be fined several million dollars and stripped of draft picks.

Unlike salary arbitration hearings in which an arbitrator can award a salary figure somewhere between what is submitted by the team and the player, this arbitrator will only have the option of overturning or agreeing with the league's rejection.

After the hearing, the arbitrator has 48 hours in which to make a ruling. That could come by next Friday.
Filed Under:   kovalchuck   new jersey devils  
August 1, 2010 11:14 AM ET | Delete
If the arbitrator rules the rejection was valid, Kovalchuk will be an unrestricted free agent and the Devils could be fined several million dollars and stripped of draft picks.as they should! F**king cheaters. why did we even have a work stoppage in 2005?
August 1, 2010 5:12 PM ET | Delete
wah wah wah. Kepp making rules to inhibit the Devils. They'll still win.Go spend some money on some tissues, ya little whiney b##ch!
August 1, 2010 11:12 PM ET | Delete
just bought a kovie jersey
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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????
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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!!!!
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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
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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!!!
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23 Possible contract for Kovalchuck
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23 EJHradek_ESPN Reports NJ Devils meet with the NHL
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26 – NYPOST.com
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31 ’s official decision on Kovalchuk’s TODAY!!!!!
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