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The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male
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The Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, are back at work trying to find a contract structure that is acceptable to them and to the NHL after the league rejected their most recent proposal—made Monday at the league’s Manhattan office.

When I reached him this morning, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello continued his stance of declining comment until the process reaches its end.

“I’m not going to have any comment whatsoever,” he said. “Everybody is running with everything here.”

When I asked Lamoriello if he is getting frustrated by anything in the process so far, he replied, “No. Absolutely not.”

As I mentioned earlier, Monday’s meeting was not the first time since arbitrator Richard Bloch’s Aug. 9 ruling that the Devils/Grossman discussed possible contract structure with the league. It has been an ongoing process. It seems, however, that the sides were hopeful they had a structure the NHL would approve this time around.

Lamoriello admitted that other team player-related business is on hold “to some degree.”

“I think it’s normal that we would be to some degree, but nothing is getting in the way with doing what we have to do,” he said.

***
Lamoriello said that fitness consultant Vladimir Bure will be joining former Devil Slava Fetisov in the KHL with the CSKA Moscow, but will remain a part-time consultant for the Devils.

“He’s going to stay in a consutlant way (beginning in) September,” Lamoriello said. “He’s taken a position with Slava in a vice president capacity—Slava is the president of the team. It’s something he wants to try. It’s more of a management position than he’s been here and he will also still be a part-time employee of ours.”

***
Some of you mentioned that you saw former Devil Sergei Brylin in New Jersey recently. Brylin was back in the area after his wife gave birth last month. but will be playing in the KHL again in the upcoming season for SKA St, Petersburg (the same team that’s been interested in Kovalchuk).

“This is where he will make his home in the future and he’s a Devil for life,” Lamoriello said of Brylin.

***
I also asked Lamoriello about the organization’s plans to play four Albany Devils’ games and one Trenton Devil game at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall in the upcoming (dates, times and opponents listed in a previous post).

“The reception was exceptional in Atlantic City,” Lamoriello said. “By no means does that minimize the importance of Albany. As a matter of fact, we’re going into Albany (Thursday) for a press conference because the facility has been renovated: the locker rooms, offices. So, we’re going up there (Thursday). But I will say this: When I was asked about potentially putting games down there (in Atlantic City), I said, “ooh.” So, we went down in April and when I saw the facility, I was just shocked at how nice the building is and more important, the locker rooms and the space and the medical areas. It was very, very impressive. So, we put our heads together and we came up with that we’re going to play four (Albany) games there—and the American Hockey League has been extremely cooperative —and play them against teams that there are certain rivalries close to the area (Adirondack/Flyers, Hershey/Capitals, Wilkes Barre-Scranton/Penguins, Norfolk/Lightning). And then we’ll play one Trenton game there. So, it’s a very positive thing. What we’re doing is we’re putting two minor league franchises in another part of New Jersey where people can be exposed to our kids.”

Lamoriello said it is possible the Devils would play an NHL preseason game in Atlantic City against the Flyers in a future season if things go well with these five minor league games.

“I certainly would approach Philly if those five (minor league) games were supported because that’s certainly a market where Philly is, too,” Lamoriello said. “I would approach them if it was something that worked out. So, I threw the fish out there and if the support is there, we’ll certainly try it.”
Filed Under:   kovalchuck   new jersey devils  
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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?????