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

Originally Posted by Crazy_Ivan

So when will the NHL be allowed to draw a line in the sand?

The next CBA.

If you want to pay a guy to play until he's 44, why can't you? It's not as if people haven't played that long before. We ALL know what NJ is doing, but there isn't anything that is illegal about it. If the NHL is going to continue to allow people to play at that age, they have to allow contracts that will pay them in those years as well.

Also, let's be real. These contracts are the exceptions, not the norm. I'd be willing to bet that this will be the last we see of this sort of deal. This likely has scared teams off from doing something like this. I wouldn't be surprised to see the arbitrator put some sort of qualifier in the decision either. Something that states while the contract doesn't violate any legal rules in the CBA, on its face it does appear to violate the spirit of it.

They are taking this to the wire.

Over at HF, one of the posters is a lawyer and former agent (which I believe to be the truth). He quoted an email he got from a Vancouver Providence writer, who said Bettman stood up at a GM's meeting and said that contracts of this nature cannot be stopped until the next CBA. That statement is potentially game, set and match for New Jersey and Kovalchuk - they can say they acted in reliance on that statement.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

Over at HF, one of the posters is a lawyer and former agent (which I believe to be the truth). He quoted an email he got from a Vancouver Providence writer, who said Bettman stood up at a GM's meeting and said that contracts of this nature cannot be stopped until the next CBA. That statement is potentially game, set and match for New Jersey and Kovalchuk - they can say they acted in reliance on that statement.

If this is true, then why did Bettman revoke this thing in the first place?

So is there a press conference/hearing for this to be released, or how is this going to be released? I haven't seen anything about when or where it is to be announced.

Originally Posted by Ice24

If this is true, then why did Bettman revoke this thing in the first place?

I said it earlier (and so did others) that this is a warning shot to the NHLPA. I don't think Bettman really thinks he could stop this particular contract, but was making a point to let people know that one, it will be tough to keep doing this. . .and two, that it's going to change in the next CBA.

Originally Posted by shoot2scor

So Jerseydevil; who do you see the Devils moving? More importantly what D men to you see being moved, and which would be good pickups for the Kings? Just curious as I know you follow them.

I gotta figure Salvador is going to be the odd man out. He'd be a decent fit for the Kings, but not a necessary one. Doesn't give them the toughness they need and he is prone to minor injuries. We gotta dump a forward too. Kaberle's ntc kicks back in today...I find it odd that there has been no talk regarding moving him. This could be a long day after they finally break the ice on this Kovalchuk nuisance.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

I gotta figure Salvador is going to be the odd man out. He'd be a decent fit for the Kings, but not a necessary one. Doesn't give them the toughness they need and he is prone to minor injuries. We gotta dump a forward too. Kaberle's ntc kicks back in today...I find it odd that there has been no talk regarding moving him. This could be a long day after they finally break the ice on this Kovalchuk nuisance.

I have heard White's name thrown around too. How much does he have left?

The plot thickens