NHL AND NHLPA AGREE TO EXTEND KOVALCHUK CONTRACT DEADLINE (tsn.ca)
To quote the immortal Yogi Berra: "It ain't over, 'till it's over."
The saga that refused to end, refuses to end once again as the NHL and the Players' Association have mutually agreed to extend the deadline to accept or reject the latest contract between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils until Friday at 5pm et.
The league had a five day period in which to approve or reject the deal, that was set to expire at 5pm on Monday, however the league appears to need more time to iron out the details. The NHL announced their decision with a press release shortly after 4pm et.
If the NHL turns it down, it would be the second time a long-term deal between Kovalchuk and the Devils had been rejected. The NHLPA would then have another five day window to file a grievance, something they did once before when the league chose not to allow the original 17-year, $102 million contract the Devils gave the Russian sniper.
If the NHL chooses to reject the deal, then the very real possibility exists that Kovalchuk will sign in the KHL, likely with SKA St. Petersburg which is believed to have offered Kovalchuk an enormous deal to return to his homeland to play. Kovalchuk's agent has made it clear that if his client signs in Russia, he will remain there for at least one full season. The KHL season opens next week while the Devils are slated to open training camp on the 17th of the month.
Should the NHL allow the contract then the Devils will have to quickly shed about $3 million to get under the league's mandated salary cap of $59.4 million. Even if the deal is accepted, the possibility also exists that the Devils could be fined or penalized for their role in the saga.
The sticking point of the original rejected deal appeared to be front loading of the contract and the length of the deal. The league has stated that they believe the Devils deliberately circumvented the cap and that the Devils did not expect Kovalchuk to play out the entirety of the deal. The now 27-year old would have been 44-years old when the deal expired and would have been playing for the league minimum. Under the terms of the new deal, Kovalchuk would instead be 42-years old when the contract expires, earning a base salary of $4 million in his final year.
The former Rocket Richard trophy winner had 41 goals and 44 assists in 76 games last season, split between the Devils and the Atlanta Thrashers.
"A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:
1. That the cap hit on future multi-year contracts will not count any seasons that end with the player over 40 years of age. The cap hit would be calculated on the average of the salary up through age 40 only.
2. That the cap hit on future contracts longer than five years will be calculated under a formula granting additional weight to the five years with the highest salary.
The league has given the PA, which is being directed by Donald Fehr, until Friday at 5 pm to accept these conditions. If the PA refuses, or if negotiations fail to yeild a common ground, the league has informed the PA that:
1. It will reject the Kovalchuk contract.
2. It will move to immediately devoid the Luongo contract.
3. It will move to immediately open proceedings for a formal investigation into the Hossa contract.
The NHL owns sweeping punitive powers against teams and players judged guilty of circumvention under Article 26 of the CBA.
Zitat von Rastaman"A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:
1. That the cap hit on future multi-year contracts will not count any seasons that end with the player over 40 years of age. The cap hit would be calculated on the average of the salary up through age 40 only.
2. That the cap hit on future contracts longer than five years will be calculated under a formula granting additional weight to the five years with the highest salary.
The league has given the PA, which is being directed by Donald Fehr, until Friday at 5 pm to accept these conditions. If the PA refuses, or if negotiations fail to yeild a common ground, the league has informed the PA that:
1. It will reject the Kovalchuk contract.
[B]2. It will move to immediately devoid the Luongo contract.[/B]
[B]3. It will move to immediately open proceedings for a formal investigation into the Hossa contract.[/B]
The NHL owns sweeping punitive powers against teams and players judged guilty of circumvention under Article 26 of the CBA.
Harter Tobak... Und beim Rest gilt: Juristen wie Bettman sind einfach nur sinnbefreit. Um diese Art von Cap-Umgehung zu prognostizieren braucht es nur gesunden Menschenverstand...
Word is Mark Streit might be out for 6 months. Does this open a spot for Souray on Long Island?
With the season ending injury of Josh Harding, Wild would be looking towards Théodore and it could be done as soon as tomorrow.
A source said today that the Colorado Avalanche are interested in acquiring Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner if the team is willing to move him as part of its salary cap space clearing moves.
Quote: Chara is ideally looking for something that would allow him to play until the age of 45, but that would mean an 11-year deal for the Slovakian defenseman. A lengthy contract like that is not exactly an easy sell to the NHL after an arbitrator roundly rejected the Ilya Kovalchuk contract – a deal based on the assumption that NHL players can continue skating in the NHL well north of their 40th birthday.
Whether a new contract would take Chara through that length or would simply be another deal similar to the five-year contract he originally signed with Boston, the B’s defenseman said there a few more days before his season-opening deadline comes into play.
“We’re not on the exact same track,” said Chara of contract talks. “But we’re talking and we’ll see how it goes. Obviously I don’t want to have it bother me during the season, so we have a few days left.”
According to a tweet from ESPNBoston’s James Murphy, the Bruins have agreed to terms with forward Brian McGrattan, who has been with the team throughout the preseason on a tryout basis. Murphy is reporting that the deal will not be finalized until Monday.
Some people just need a high-five. In the face. With a chair.
Zitat von H.M. MurdockMarc Savard to Phoenix (e3-4)
inkl. Concussion und Aufhebung der No-Move Clause? Ich glaube dass es eher Wheeler (und?) oder Ryder sind. Angeblich haben die Bruins im Gegenzug an Yandle Interesse.
Some people just need a high-five. In the face. With a chair.