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.
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?
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!
just bought a kovie jersey