It has to end today
  • Tom Gulitti of the Record: The NHL has until 5:00 pm today to reach their decision to either accept or reject the contract between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils. The contract would be deemed acceptable and registered if the league doesn’t make a ruling by then, but Bill Daley emailed “the deadline will not pass without the league communicating its determination.” If league accepts the deal, the Devils will have to clear over $3 million in contracts. If the NHL rejects, Kovalchuk and the NHLPA have 5 days to make an appeal.
  • Pavel Lysenkov via twitter: If Kovalchuk’s contract is rejected by the NHL, he’s likely to go to SKA St. Petersberg of the KHL.
  • Darren Dreger of TSN: One GM thinks the league will reject the latest contract proposal, and said the Devils and Kovalchuk were trying to “disguise circumvention,” adding,  “trying to hide the crime, makes this even worse.” Sources are saying other teams are expecting a penalty, either a reduction of cap or loss of draft pick.
  • Damien Cox via twitter: Teams are demanding that the New Jersey Devils be penalized for the first contract given to Kovalchuk.
  • Nick Kyreos of Sportsnet: Kyreos reveals the contract details from Kovalchuk’s second contract. We’ve listed them along side the rejected deal.

Season
1st Contract
2nd Contract
2010-11
$6 million
$6 million
2011-12
$6 million
$6 million
2012-13
$11.5 million
$11 million
2013-14
$11.5 million
$11.3 million
2014-15
$11.5 million
$11.3 million
2015-16
$11.5 million
$11.6 million
2016-17
$11.5 million
$11.8 million
2017-18
$10.5 million
$10 million
2018-19
$8.5 million
$7 million
2019-20
$6.5 million
$4 million
2020-21
$3.5 million
$1 million
2021-22
$750,000
$1 million
2022-23
$550,000
$1 million
2023-24
$550,000
$3 million
2024-25
$550,000
$4 million
2025-26
$550,000
2026-27
$550,000