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

Originally Posted by symbology

Actually, I think he was just trying to say anything but the truth. The Kings did not offer me my $100M deal, so I signed in NJ.

If he really did not want LA because of the area, why take a week to figure that out? Why negotiate with LA for another 4-5 days?

He is about the money and he was trying to hide that fact.

I agree with you 100%, in fact I was just mentioning that to my wife a few minutes ago. I was just irked by how some people are letting their bias effect how they read Kovy's quotes.

Originally Posted by dgrycan

As long as Gordie Howe played, why can't a player use him as a yardstick? Of course it's not going to happen, but what legal recourse does the league have? There's no distinct number in the CBA - they should have put it in there and they didn't. IMO, the NHL is bull**** for stopping this NOW. Chicago has their name on the Stanley Cup with a contract with the same intent. Argue the extent all you want, but the intent is the same, to acquire higher market value than the cap would allow. Argue that Hossa didn't play a major role or not (Nashville would disagree!), but they still had him on the team at a lower cap hit than the salary he was being paid.

The real problem I have is that these meetings are taking place behind closed doors, and of COURSE there are agreements being made by the parties involved. Kovalchuk and Hossa are NOT going to be sticking around in the NHL after 40 making peanuts. And more importantly, the Hawks and Devils respectively aren't going to have them sitting on their rosters at age 40 taking a huge chunk of cap away. These parties both KNOW that these deals are going to end prior to their agreed terms. The Luongo deal is the same.

Does it matter that Philly still has to take the Pronger hit? They were still able to acquire a lower market value cap hit for a current value player. Simple circumvention - plain and simple.

To say that the NHL steps in because this contract is clearly overt in its act is a disservice to teams who, in good faith, have tried to build a team and had to watch two teams in the Cup Finals this past season that were able to build a team with higher than market value talent that was obtained through these means. They should have made their intentions clearly defined. Come out and say what they'll approve and what they won't. Forcing teams to walk the gray area while still circumventing isn't the solution.

This is the big question in my mind. What legal recourse does the NHL actually have? I disagree with you in the sense that I applaud the NHL for their decision to step in and attempt to take a stand against such a glaring attempt to circumvent and try to stop the bleeding, but when all is said and done, how is this decision going to be upheld if nothing in the CBA forbids it?

Originally Posted by DiehardKingsFan

He'll still be a Devil, but damn. Don't understand how the NHL can accept the contracts given to Hossa and Zetterberg and then do this.

Well, their contracts are a little more understandable...

It is circumventing the cap because it is likely he doesn't play past age 40 or so, but it has him locked up till age 44.

The way I look at it, is the NHL is trying to get the teams to stay true to their contracts...if this were the case oh lets just sign everyone to a HEAVY frontloaded deal and let them retire and us be rewarded for it.

The solution for this is simple - you force teams to take a cap hit for the salary that they actually PAY during the season, allow varying years of contract, or you force them to pay the player annually the same per year.

hmmmm..........

Originally Posted by jammer06

Wonder if Lou called Gary too, wouldn't that be funny. His comments were pretty much "I wash my hands of this contract, but the player is not a liability"

Honestly everyone is thinking that Lombardi screamed to high heaven...I wouldn't be surprised if Uncle Lou was the whistleblower.

Originally Posted by PuckHead27

That is utter and complete

Couldn't have said it better myself. In fact, it is the complete opposite IMO.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Honestly everyone is thinking that Lombardi screamed to high heaven...I wouldn't be surprised if Uncle Lou was the whistleblower.

Although I'm sure there probably were some calls made, does anyone really think it was necessary for anyone to go screaming to the front office on something like this? I'm pretty sure this would have been the conclusion they came to regardless.

Nick Kypreos twated:

"Internal friction? Heard Bettman forewarned Lou/Devils early as Monday that rejection was good possibility. Devils chose presser anyway."

Nick Kypreos (RealKyper) on Twitter