Ilya Kovalchuk Update: Arbitration Looming

NHL.com’s Dan Rosen is reporting that Ilya Kovalchuk’s arbitration case will commence on Wednesday, with a decision being made public as early as Friday.

The NHL rejected Kovalchuk’s 17-year, $102 million deal based on the fact that they felt the contract circumvented the CBA.

The onus will be on the NHL to prove that the Kovalchuk deal was, in fact, signed with the intention of side-stepping the CBA. However, given the wording of said CBA, this will be tough to do.

Many NHL fans feel that the Kovalchuk deal is reasonable, but there are more than a few who feel the deal is “insane,” especially in light of the fact that the deal is front loaded and that Kovalchuk would be 44 years old when it expires.

Many believe that given how little will be owed to the talented Russian sniper in the final five years of the deal, that Kovalchuk fully intends to retire after 12 seasons.

It will be up to arbitrator Richard Block to decide if the Kovalchuk deal will stand or if the deal will be seen as illegal.

If Block sides with Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils, the deal will stand.

If Block sides with the NHL, the two sides could elect and try to hammer out the sticking points in an effort to make the deal work.

Or Kovalchuk could once again be deemed a free agent, at which point he could opt to sign with another NHL club, the KHL, or sign another deal with the Devils.

Until next time,

Peace!