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

The NHL Players' Association likely will file a grievance today on behalf of Ilya Kovalchuk, whose 17-year, $102 million contract was rejected by the league.

The union has until 5 p.m. to file the grievance or the Russian left winger will once again become an unrestricted free agent.


Kovalchuk, 27, signed the longest contract in NHL history but the league rejected it for "circumventing the salary cap." The length of the deal lowered the cap hit to $6 million but league officials do not believe Kovalchuk will still be playing in the final years when his salary is set to be $550,000 per season.

He would be 44 in the final season of the deal.

Although the NHL informed the Devils one week ago that the contract would be rejected, the team went ahead and held a press conference at the Prudential Center Tuesday afternoon. That evening, the contract was officially rejected.

During the press conference, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello admitted he did not like the idea that teams could skirt the salary cap issue by stretching out a contract. But he maintained the team did nothing illegal.

The league disagreed.

Ironically, the Devils hope a grievance filed by the Players' Assiociation will result in a victory for the team, allowing the contract to stand. If a grievance is filed today, which is expected, an arbitrator will rule on the outcome.

If the arbitrator rules in favor of the NHLPA and Kovalchuk, the deal stands. If the decision goes against Kovalchuk, he immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Although the Los Angeles Kings might then be interested in re-opening talks, it is more likely Kovalchuk would seek to have the deal reworked by the Devils.

While an arbitrator is supposed to make a ruling within 48 hours of the grievance being filed, there is a question as to whether there is someone in place to handle the matter. If not, the ruling could be delayed for an undetermined period.

When the NHL rejected the contract the Devils did not have the right to appeal, so they turned to the players' union.
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Blog Archive

10 On Kovi free agency
11 KOVI IN LA
12 KOVI SAGA GOES ON
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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???
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20 Left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, there is significance to #17
21 Once Kovalchuk's deal is settled, attention to Zach!!!
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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???
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21 ELIAS TO THE ATLANTA TRASHERS????
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22 Brian Burke Testified Against Ilya Kovalchuk Contract???
22 Devils Bringing Hockey Back To Atlantic City
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23 Possible contract for Kovalchuck
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23 EJHradek_ESPN Reports NJ Devils meet with the NHL
24 News 12 New Jersey Reports on Kovi Contract...
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26 – NYPOST.com
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27 Could this be finalyy over???
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31 ’s official decision on Kovalchuk’s TODAY!!!!!
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