Thread: Kovalchuk part V, The NHL Strikes Back, NHLPA files Grievance (All Discussion Here )

I'm not saying DL is a bad GM by any means. He's done some great things for this franchise in a limited amount of time. But he's also made some bone-headed mistakes and unlike Lou he's not very accomplished.

Originally Posted by symbology

lol

Lou is a great GM, but choosing this ordeal as a basis to argue DL's inability is just laughable.

When did I say Dean's inability prevented Kovy from signing here? I just stated that Lou is a better GM and he proved it.

Again, when was the last time DL was able to convince a top-tier free agent to come to LA?

Originally Posted by Goallum

Look, I don't think anyone is arguing that those other deals aren't attempted cap circumvention. Of course they are. I think the difference here is the extent of all these factors combined makes it too blatant for the league to swallow.

Thankfully, it's very easy to prove in this case whether there's been intent on both parts to honor the last third of the contract. All they have to do is to restructure the contract to spread out the money more evenly, same cap hit, same total $$$, same years. If they go for it, great, deal approved! However, I don't think either party would want to do it. Kovalchuk won't want to play more years to get to the magic 100M mark. The Devils won't want to risk having an overage overpaid albatross for longer than they already agreed to bear.

But hey, maybe you're right and they'll restructure it, and if they do, more power to them.

I am sure NJ will be all over your solution. But if they move money to the last 5 years, then Kovalchuk would in fact have to play until 44 to get all the 100M.

Good to have Bettman back in our pocket.
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Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I am sure NJ will be all over your solution. But if they move money to the last 5 years, then Kovalchuk would in fact have to play until 44 to get all the 100M.

I wouldn't be so sure NJ will be too thrilled about that solution either. The more they would have to pay him at the end of the contract makes it that much more likely he will want to play the entire thing out, and the last thing Jersey wants it a cap hit of $6 million for a 44 year old.

This is not Lou vs. Dean. Both probably won’t be with their respective teams 15 yrs from now when the contract is about to mature

Its about ownership and bottomline dollar value. NJ owner is willing to pay Kovalchuk $96m for 10 or so years and $11.5m a year at the contract highest lvl. Our owner thinks that this is not good business.

All Lou (and Dean) did was to say, that he is comfortable with Kovalchuk at $6m cap hit….so they came up with the 17 years to balance out the cap figure. Make no mistake, this is not Lou or Dean calls. Both would want Kovalchuk on the team, anyone would, just for what price

As far as the news goes, I’m on the fence in thinking whether Kovalchuk would want to union involved in this. If the union file grievance the settlement will take plenty of time. By that time all the potential suitors (Kings) may already be committed in other direction. If the grievance failed, then Kovy will be in trouble…NJ will be the sole bidder, along with KHL that is

I think he will try to settle with NJ ASAP on a new contract…if the number doesn’t work then the Kings would have best shot after that

And... Kovalchuk goes to KHL.
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Originally Posted by Goallum

Look, I don't think anyone is arguing that those other deals aren't attempted cap circumvention. Of course they are. I think the difference here is the extent of all these factors combined makes it too blatant for the league to swallow.

Thankfully, it's very easy to prove in this case whether there's been intent on both parts to honor the last third of the contract. All they have to do is to restructure the contract to spread out the money more evenly, same cap hit, same total $$$, same years. If they go for it, great, deal approved! However, I don't think either party would want to do it. Kovalchuk won't want to play more years to get to the magic 100M mark. The Devils won't want to risk having an overage overpaid albatross for longer than they already agreed to bear.

But hey, maybe you're right and they'll restructure it, and if they do, more power to them.

Like I said above, the reason Kovy took this deal was specifically because it paid him 10 million+ for several seasons. It was no secret that he was looking to make at least as much money as Ovechkin and the 6 years @ 11.5 million guaranteed that he would be.

So I doubt he'll agree to any contract that has him making less than 10 million during the same stretch Ovechkin is making that amount.

Originally Posted by Vladimir27

When did I say Dean's inability prevented Kovy from signing here? I just stated that Lou is a better GM and he proved it.

He just proved it by signing a contract that he did not like, that the NHL rejected? I fail to see your logic.

Also, you do know that Lou hates this Kovy contract and it was the Devils' ownership that forced the deal?

Lou is one hell of a GM, but he did not prove anything this round.......