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The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male
Source Fire & Ice

After spending Monday reviewing the 15-year, $100 million contract Ilya Kovalchuk signed with the Devils on Friday, the NHL did not announce a decision on whether it was going to approve or reject the deal.

Although a source said the league did not officially inform the Devils of a decision on the contract—that would come in the form of a letter of approval or rejection—there were indications that the NHL officials did make a decision on Monday and that the verdict would likely be officially communicated to the team on Tuesday.

Whether the NHL informally let the Devils know Monday what that decision would be—as it did before officially rejecting the 17-year, $102 million contract Kovalchuk signed on July 19—was unknown. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello did not return a telephone message I left for him early Monday evening.

Regardless, the NHL has until 5 p.m. Wednesday (the end of its five-day limit) to officially render a decision. Otherwise, under the collective bargaining agreement, the contract would be deemed approved and registered.

Some details on the structure of Kovalchuk’s contract emerged Monday. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported that the deal would pay Kovalchuk $90 million over the first 10 seasons and $10 million over the last five. The average salary over the last three seasons would be $2.6 million, with a base salary of $4 million in the contract’s final season of 2024-25—according to Kypreos.

If those numbers are correct, they would seem to address at least some of the NHL’s concerns about Kovalchuk’s initial contract, which would have paid him $98.5 million in the first 11 seasons and just $3.5 million in the last six. That was part of what led the NHL to reject the contract as a circumvention of the salary cap. That rejection was upheld by arbitrator Richard Bloch in an Aug. 9 ruling that followed a two-day grievance hearing in Boston the preceding week.
Filed Under:   kovlachuck   new jersey devils  
August 31, 2010 8:44 AM ET | Delete
i wonder if the league taking so long was just so the devils could clear up the cap space before they make their final decision, i mean if they helped with the structure they wouldnt need 4 days to make a decision
August 31, 2010 10:04 AM ET | Delete
Maybe I think the NHL might be trying to find anything possible to reject this contract...But after some reports of the contract i dont see them having any stance this time around. Kovi should be a Devil by the end of today.
August 31, 2010 10:32 AM ET | Delete
but why would they want to reject it so bad, do they really want a superstar sniper to go play in russia? plus if lou changed everything to meet their requirements i dont see how they can find anything
August 31, 2010 10:39 AM ET | Delete
I agree with the post above I just dont get why they had to wait the 5 days....just dosent seem right in a why...maybe Buttman needed to get crosby's ok first...
August 31, 2010 10:48 AM ET | Delete
i agree ive wondered why its taken so long aswell, maybe theyre not going to tell them at all and just wait till wednesday is over so the contract has to be approved and the devils get more time to dump some cap. and i heard about something to do with crosby what is that exactly
August 31, 2010 11:22 AM ET | Delete
2 things I think of...1 - they obviously want to make sure their response is well thought out...it sets the table for discussions on the next CBA...2 - delaying allows more time for people to discuss the situation...at least within hockey circles, it creates something to talk about during a typically dead media time (start of the nfl season)...
August 31, 2010 12:46 PM ET | Delete
there is one reason this is all happening....nj is not the flashy franchise bettman would like to endorse such as the rangers, wings, or pens...(hence none of the philly nj playoff match being broadcasted on national tv) if any of these 3 teams signed kovy to the 17 yr deal, i highly doubt we'd be in this position right now...It's all about the benjamins baby
August 31, 2010 2:55 PM ET | Delete
August 31, 2010 8:44 PM ET | Delete
today passed and still no ruling over the contract :S, i hope they say yes tomorrow they have to
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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?????