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

According to E.J. Hradek, Devils were contacted by the NHL when the NHL got wind of the offerto let Jersey know the contract would be rejected long before Kovy agreed to it. According to this article:

The Devils apparently went through with their press conference in order to seal their position and set in motion the chain of events that will likely lead to arbitration, which is expected to force the NHL to accept and register the deal.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devil...#ixzz0uMbhN7BB
Whoa. Ballsy, stupid, or both?

Originally Posted by USCKingsFan31

0? That's a bit extreme. I think people should stop getting their hopes up that he'll all of a sudden come here again, but honestly, what was he going to say? "I wanted to play in LA, but they didn't pay me enough"? Of course he's going to say he always wanted to return to NJ, etc, the same way he'd say "I always wanted to move to LA" had he signed here.

No way we can speculate accurate percentages, but 0 is a tad low, I think.

No but what he could have said was, "It was a very tough decision but my family and I felt NJ was the best offer for me to take for the rest of my career."

Not "After meeting with management and some of the players it my my decision very easy".

And 0% I feel is right on because he will not want to lose face especially after those comments. Obviously in reality there is always a chance for anything until signed and approved, but this isn't a time.

F em all.

Originally Posted by PuckHead27

From the Devils stand point it would be difficult to negotiate a new deal with Kovalchuk when you are unsure what your cap is going to be next season. If the Devils are fined it will count against their cap for next year. The fine could be anywhere from $1million to $5million. A renegotiated deal would probably mean a larger cap hit anyway and when you add the fine (if any) how do they move forward until the current situation is resolved?

This is exactly the problem for Lou. The guy is already 2.25 M over the cap and that doesn't include these cap fines that also may get applied. A new deal for Kovy will cause a bigger hit AND that added fine could kick in then he'd simply have to begin to think the unthinkable.

Guys like Rolston, Arnott, Zubrus would simply be salary dumps and will be extremely hard to dump given the magnitude of his cap disaster.

This f-up could even make it next to impossible to retain Parise going forward, so maybe he is moved for real assets in return?

Lou's got problems if this contract can't go thru IMO.

Originally Posted by PuckHead27

Is that your opinion or was this issue resolved and I missed it?

The issue isn't really about this contract - it's about the CBA in 2012. No reason to fine the Devils - they are just sending a message so these contracts will stop.

Via NY Post: It does not seem likely that circumvention penalties, such as suspensions or hefty fines, $1-5 million for the team and $250G-$1 million for the player, would apply in this case of an initial contract submission voided over a previously-unspecified issue.

Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

The issue isn't really about this contract - it's about the CBA in 2012. No reason to fine the Devils - they are just sending a message so these contracts will stop.
Posted via Mobile Device

I agree 100%. I think the Devils will get a slap on the wrist, if that.

So basically ...either the owner wins and the arbitrator supports the deal as legal...or Lou wins by putting Kovy in a position to sign a less onerous contract, in which case the owner REALLY wins...if NHLPA loses the arbitration Kovy is gonna be pissed!
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by Bojanglz

No but what he could have said was, "It was a very tough decision but my family and I felt NJ was the best offer for me to take for the rest of my career."

Not "After meeting with management and some of the players it my my decision very easy".

And 0% I feel is right on because he will not want to lose face especially after those comments. Obviously in reality there is always a chance for anything until signed and approved, but this isn't a time.

Right, all speculation on your part.

Sure he could have said "it was a difficult decision", but it's all fluff anyway. Why not just make the fans happy and say "it was an easy decision"? If it was really that easy, it wouldn't have taken 3 weeks, posturing for salary or not.

Also, I get the "losing face" angle for both New Jersey and Kovalchuk, but they both have a ton of egg on their face regardless of how it ends up shaking out. If the new offer from NJ is nowhere in the ballpark and the LA one is more his speed, he might wind up here. He may, like you say, be too proud/embarrassed to not go to NJ at this point - but that's just us guessing.

Anyway, its all opinion and you are entitled to yours. I just read 0% as absolutely zero chance, which is a bit bold when your only evidence is press conference fluff and your own assumptions.

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

They aren't going to be fined!
Posted via Mobile Device

And you know this because...

What's the point of having a clause that say the NHL can/may fine a team for messing with the cap if you won't enforce it. It would send a much stronger message to other teams by enforcing it.