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

Originally Posted by DUC620

Prediction:

NHL agrees not to fine NJ. (Still shows NHL as top dog.)
NJ agrees not to dispute. (No Fine. Whee!)
NJ and Grossman reapply with new contract. (about 14y @ 96 with payments prorated to match Hossa's contract as it tapers off.)
IK signs new contract.
Everybody steps back from the brink.

Everyone begins to study the starting bargaining points for the new CBA: such as; $48 mil cap vs a franchise player designation; such as, total contract years limited as a function of a players age; such as each team has a limited number of AAV versus actual average salary contracts.

Not sure that they could live with the 6.8 Cap hit, or how they could structure the deal to be anything but a little better than the Kings.

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.

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

IMO they still are in a bit of limbo until they know for sure. Please note, in my previous post I never said that they should be fined or that they would be fined, I said they could be fined. Even the NY Post says, "It does not seem likely." They don't rule it out completely and it's still sort of hanging there over their heads. The possibility is still there however remote it may be.

If Bettman was ever miffed by booing L.A. fans, wait till he goes to a Devils game.

The bottom line for me is did Kovy know, or did he not know.

If he did not know, fire everyone...

If he knew... go to hell!

You got to have faith,

Originally Posted by USCKingsFan31

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.

Oh I agree but the options we were given, I felt 50% was a little high. There was no %5 chance or I would have said that.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

Which possibly leads me to rethink my earlier statement about NJ just getting a slap on the wrist. If the NHL told them not to do the deal, they went ahead and did the deal anyway, they may be very tempted to throw the book at them, assuming they win the arbitration.

Exactly!

This would make it difficult to enter into a new negotiation with Kovalchuk until they know for sure what their cap ceiling will be next season.

That's all I'm saying.

Originally Posted by PuckHead27

IMO they still are in a bit of limbo until they know for sure. Please note, in my previous post I never said that they should be fined or that they would be fined, I said they could be fined. Even the NY Post says, "It does not seem likely." They don't rule it out completely and it's still sort of hanging there over their heads. The possibility is still there however remote it may be.

Too true
Posted via Mobile Device

EJ Hradek talks about the contact mess:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZkSjCmEE4M&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - EJ Hradek talks about Ilya Kolvalchuk's contract rejection[/ame]