The beginning or the end? The Kovalchuk saga continues
With the Ilya Kovalchuk contract saga coming to an end, NHL Hot Stove editor Brandon Macdonald looks at the impact it has on the NHL.
In what can only be labeled as tedious, the Ilya Kovalchuk saga is seemingly coming to an end. A deadline of 5 p.m. EST for the NHL to either approve or deny the new contract that has been worked out between the New Jersey Devils and Kovalchuk.
Sportsnet.ca analyst Nick Kypreos revealed that the new not-so-frontloaded contract that will see the Russian sniper play in Jersey for the next 15 seasons. The contract will see Kovalchuk get paid a high of $11.8 million and a low of $1 million. However, the final two years of the deal he will receive $3 and $4 million.
The issue with the first contract being rejected was that it was so front loaded and would see Kovalchuk being paid the veteran’s minimum over the final five years of the deal.
News now is that NHLPA advisor Donald Fehr and Commissioner Gary Bettman may be working together to find something that will work for both sides.
It seems a little redundant to continue to battle over the contract issue when it will inevitably be approved. If the deal is no approved, chances are that Kovalchuk will bolt to Russia and play in the KHL, where teams have large contracts ready, and try again next season.
The whole thing has been a black cloud on the NHL offseason. It was supposed to be madness between the teams trying to sign him, not madness because of the contract. It has only created more separation between the already weak relationship of the NHL and NHLPA.
Again, the whole issue with the contract is that it is front-loaded and the chances of Kovalchuk playing in to his forties, while not out of the question, is not likely. It is a loophole that many teams have already taken advantage of, where you can pay a guy tons of money, but since he is making the veteran’s minimum at the end of the deal, it averages out to a lower cap hit.
While this is a smart way to beat the cap, the NHL clearly sees where they went wrong and now wants to do something about it and is making an example out of the Kovalchuk contract.
There have been discussions about the already approved front-loaded deals, like the one signed by Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger. Savard is a $4 million cap hit while Pronger’s hit is $4.9.
We are getting close to the end of the Kovy-gate saga and while it has given the media lots to write about, it is a headache that this writer is glad will be dealt with.
Brandon Macdonald
NHLHS Editor
bmacdonald@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter @bMacdonald8
