SB Nation Los Angeles - NHL Voids Ilya Kovalchuk Deal With New Jersey Devilshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2010-07-20T20:45:05-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13210792010-07-20T20:45:05-07:002010-07-20T20:45:05-07:00Not So Fast My Friend: NHL Voids Kovalchuk Deal With New Jersey
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<p>Maybe the Kings didn’t lose out on free agent Ilya Kovalchuk after all. The <span class="caps">NHL</span> voided his 17-year deal with the New Jersey Devils today, saying it circumvented the salary cap. Per Rich Chere of the <a href="http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/07/nhl_rejects_ilya_kovalchuk_con.html?loc=interstitialskip" target="new">Newark Star-Ledger</a>:</p>
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<p>In an effort to keep Kovalchuk’s average salary (and cap hit) low, the Devils signed him to the longest contract in <span class="caps">NHL</span> history. Although he will be paid $11.5 million at its height, the average is just $6 million.</p>
<p>The current deal would pay Kovalchuk $95 million in the first 10 years and only $7 million over the final seven years. The last five years of the contract would pay him just $550,000 annually. The <span class="caps">NHL</span> has determined that the contract was lengthened solely to lower the cap hit.</p>
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<p>Quisp of Jewels From The Crown <a href="http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2010/7/20/1579660/kovalchuk-day-20-were" target="new">outlines the relevant passages from the <span class="caps">NHL</span> collective bargaining agreement</a>:</p>
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<p>The <span class="caps">NHLPA</span> has five days to “dispute.” If they don’t, the contract is void. If they do, it goes to an Arbitrator, who decides within 48 hours. So we will know within a week.</p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/20/1579728/ilya-kovalchuk-new-jersey-devils-voids-contract-nhlEric Stephen2010-07-19T09:53:33-07:002010-07-19T09:53:33-07:00Kovalchuk Spurns Kings, Decides To Stay With New Jersey
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<p>Free agent left winger Ilya Kovalchuk decided to stay with the New Jersey Devils, the team <a href="http://twitter.com/NHLDevils/status/18925088751" target="new">announced via Twitter this morning</a>. Last week, the Kings and Kovalchuk were reportedly close to a deal, but that never materialized.</p>
<p>Per <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=5392170" target="new"><span class="caps">ESPN</span></a>:</p>
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<p>“Ilya is excited to be continuing his career with New Jersey and knows first-hand the team’s dedication and commitment to winning,” Jay Grossman, president of PuckAgency, which represents Kovalchuk, said in a statement.</p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/19/1576810/ilya-kovalchuk-new-jersey-devils-contract-los-angeles-kingsEric Stephen2010-07-16T14:30:14-07:002010-07-16T14:30:14-07:00Report: Kings, Kovalchuk Close To Deal
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<p>The on-again, off-again negotiations between free agent left winger Ilya Kovalchuck and the Los Angeles Kings appear to be on again. Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reported <a href="http://twitter.com/RealKyper/status/18682192839" target="new">via Twitter</a> that the two sides are on the verge of a deal:</p>
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<p>A big swing in the Ilya/Kings talks. Major stumbling blocks have been rectified. A source now described it to me as “close but not done”</p>
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<p>Matt “Money” Smith of the Petros and Money radio show on Fox Sports Radio reported <a href="http://twitter.com/PetrosAndMoney/status/18716184369" target="new">the contract would be a long one</a>:</p>
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<p>Kovi looks done 15 yrs 80 mil. Structure being finished. Kings</p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/16/1573605/kings-ilya-kovalchuk-contract-close-to-dealEric Stephen2010-07-07T11:43:49-07:002010-07-07T11:43:49-07:00Kings Back In Negotiations With Ilya Kovalchuk
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<p><span>Ilya Kovalchuk</span>, the free agent left winger who finished sixth in the National Hockey League in goals scored last season for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/ATL">Atlanta Thrashers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/NJD">New Jersey Devils</a>, is reportedly no longer in the running to join the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/LOS">Los Angeles Kings</a>. Per Helene Elliott of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-kovalchuk-20100708,0,3038803.story">Los Angeles Times</a>:</p>
<blockquote>General Manager Dean Lombardi ended his initial pursuit of the two-time 50-goal scorer Sunday but was "re-engaged" by Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman. After crunching the numbers of a proposal sent Wednesday by Grossman, the Kings calculated they couldn't sign Kovalchuk and have salary cap space to retain the young players who are becoming the franchise's cornerstones.</blockquote>
<p>Lombardi explained:</p>
<blockquote>"We really would love to add Kovi to our team, but not at the cost of our good young players," Tim Leiweke, the Kings' governor and chief executive of parent company AEG, said Wednesday night. "Dean is trying here, but we know what we need in cap space going forward to keep our nucleus together. We can't let one guy throw us into panic in a year or two. It is not about cash. It is about cap."</blockquote>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/7/2317586/kings-back-in-negotiations-with-ilya-kovalchukEric Stephen