Reports are coming out that the NHL is rejecting the deal.
Sources: NHL rejects Ilya Kovalchuk deal with New Jersey Devils - ESPN New York
Sources: NHL rejects Ilya Kovalchuk deal with New Jersey Devils - ESPN New York
No no no man. NJ merely set the buying price.17 years and $102 million US. I can't say I really follow the whole logic train in why the league rejected it but I wonder how it will play out. It does seem, from all the chatter leading up to the signing that Kovalchuk wants to stay in New Jersey, so even if its voided I think they'll find a way to get him there.
Since they are using a loophole, and it isn't illegal with regards to the CBA of the NHL, I suspect that the Player's Union will grieve this.
Why is the NHL suddenly doing something against this when they allowed the exact same types of contracts to be signed by Hossa, Di Pietro, Pronger, Ovechkin. If they really didn't want this sort of contract to be signed, then they should have stepped in during the very first one.
yes, we were wondering that same thing, possibly this particular contract goes a step further, not
sure, n. jersey are not going to appeal the decision, and they have five days to come up with a
new contract for kovalchuk.
what i'm not sure about, is kovalchuk now a free agent again, or does he have to wait the five days.
The current CBA explains circumvention as the following in section 26.3:
(a) No Club or Club Actor, directly or indirectly, may: (i) enter into any agreements, promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind, whether express, implied, oral or written, including without limitation, any SPC, Qualifying Offer, Offer Sheet or other transaction, or (ii) take or fail to take any action whatsoever, if either (i) or (ii) is intended to or has the effect of defeating or Circumventing the provisions of this Agreement or the intention of the parties as reflected by the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation, provisions with respect to the financial and other reporting obligations of the Clubs and the League, Team Payroll Range, Player Compensation Cost Redistribution System, the Entry Level System and/or Free Agency.
I guess they're looking at the difference between the $6million per year at the start and the $550thousand at the end, and judging that this is a blatant attempt to circumvent the rules, that nobody seriously expects him to play for 17 years.
He has to wait the process out. If the NHLPA doesn't grieve it or the arbitrator rules against it, he's a UFA again.
Yup.Question...
Is this sort of the NHL's way of avoiding what happened in Major League Baseball with regards to out of control contracts?
Yup.
I have to agree Talloola, but think of the chaos if all the sudden Luongo, Pronger, Savard and Hossa all become UFAs...it could be a lot of fun to watch although maybe not quite so much fun for the teams and fans of the teams they signed with...
Now the NHL has given the players association an ultimatum.
They must agree to a new 'adjusted' cap system before the kovalchuk deal is approved, and if
they don't, the kovalchuk deal will be rejected and so will luong's and hossa's will be looked at
again too, and possibly also rejected.
I know the NHL should have rejected the very first deal of this sort, BUT I agree with them, as
the gms' are starting to make a mockery of the cap system, and something has to be done, and just
because it is late in the day, it is still the right thing to do, so 'do it'.
Many canuck fans want to see luongo's contract opened up anyway, so some of it will be taken away,
but we all know that won't happen, but still I don't know how they adjust the contract and still
end up with the same amount of money. For instance, if they have to take the 7. whatever million
cap hit this season, instead of the 5. whatever, which is what the contract says now, the canucks
will be well over the cap, then what.
If the players association completely reject any change in the format they now have, a new nhl
war will start between nhl and players assoc.