I can’t believe the amount of pissing and moaning coming out of the devils fans. Shit like we’re getting screwed, the league is out to get us, etc…

Really? If we are being blatantly honest here, it’s pretty clear what the contract was about. There was just no way Ilya Kovalchuk was playing those last 4 years of the deal (probably even the last 6). I don’t think anyone can argue that, so if that’s the case, I don’t understand what the complaining is about? We all know exactly what it is, so why pretend it’s something different?

There’s comparisons to the Luongo, Hossa, Lecavalier and Pronger deals, but if you look at them closesly they aren’t even close. The Kovalchuk deal was a giant step farther than all of them.

1. Pronger is a 35+ contract, which means even if he retires, the Flyers are stuck with that cap hit, so it’s not even a comparable situation.

2. Lecavalier gets paid $2.5 mil his final 2 years. Kovalchuk was barely getting that his last 5. No only that but Lecavalier is 40 at the end of his deal and 38 after the big money years.

3. Marian Hossa is signed until 42. He also makes $1mil in each of his last 4 years, almost double that of the Kovalchuk deal.

4. Luongo is 43 at the end of his deal and again, the last 3 years of his deal are $1mil or more per year.

Not only is the Kovalchuk contract loaded with more low salary years than any of the alleged comparables, it’s at a significantly lower salary as well. It should be pretty clear to everyone what the last 6 (basically 1/3rd of the contract) years were there to do, which is reduce the cap hit. They pushed for a longer term, more cheap years, lower back wages and to an older age than anyone else… it shouldn’t be any surprise they got dinged for it.

I was surprised at the decision, but it’s very good for the league that they won this case. If they had lost we would have seen some truly ridiculous contracts next summer. So yeah, I’m surprised but pleased. It’s interesting that there is mention within the document of potentially looking at the contracts of some of the other players who have mega-term deals. Methinks Hossa and Luongo are the two most likely to also get overturned if the league keeps going with this. Hopefully the next CBA has explicit rules around these issues.

Feel free to peruse the full decision and come to silly conclusions like a Devils’ fan would. Also, say things like “bank on it” and “I’m certain” when coming to those silly conclusions.

Haha nice.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=330099

ha ha! I really should read this site more often. Especially since I tend to agree with your line of thinking on this subject more than where I hang out.