NHL Breeze: Sept.1, Kovy D-Day, Niemi's New Team, Savard On the Move?

NHL Breeze: Sept.1, Kovy D-Day, Niemi's New Team, Savard On the Move?

Happy birthdays to:

NHL player born today:

-          26—Rod Pelley, C, New Jersey Devils

-          27—Jeff Woywitka, D, Dallas Stars

Today’s NHL news and notes:

-       You be the judge! Kovalchuk salary figures pending league approval:

§  2010-11: $6 million

§  2011-12: $6 million

§  2012-13: $11 million

§  2013-14: $11.3 million

§  2014-15: $11.3 million

§  2015-16: $11.6 million

§  2016-17: $11.8 million

§  2017-18: $10 million

§  2018-19: $7 million

§  2019-20: $4 million

§  2020-21: $1 million

§  2021-22: $1 million

§  2022-23: $1 million

§  2023-24: $3 million

§  2024-25: $4 million

Cap Hit: $6.666mil

Salary: $100 million

Term: 15-years

Basically, you can flip the final 6 years to 4, 4, 3, 1, 1, 1. It’s cap circumvention in disguise in the perspective of some NHL executives (general managers), and here you can see why.

Personally, I dislike how people bring up all the other contracts, because those are a thing of the past. Kovy deal is what it is, and most of it is between agent Jay Grossman and Jeff Vanderbeek, the owner. Lou Lamoriello and Kovy had little to do with this.

-       Chris Chelios officially retires to join Red Wings as an Advisor to Hockey Operations, meaning the business side of sports rather than the player side. He may be responsible for player development and setting up camps and regimen planning.

-       Nikolai Khabibulin is sentenced to a minimum 30 day prison after court verdict. Longest sentence would have been six months.

-       Boston about to move Marc Savard! Latest breaking news. Where is he moving to? Wait to find out.

-       Birthday boy and UFA Matt Ellis signs a contract with the Buffalo Sabres to remain a Sabre.

-       Blackhawks new goalie Marty Turco had this to say: “These kids look like they had some fun this summer, and I want to be a part of it.”

-       Quenville statement on Turco’s workload, “Fifty-five to sixty is probably a good number to start with and everything open for competition past that.”

-       Antti Niemi reportedly close to a signing in the NHL.

-       Christian Hanson signs a 1-year contract with the Maple Leafs.

-       No word yet on Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract being approved by the NHL

-       Predators ink D Aaron Johnson to a one-year, two-way deal worth 550k/105k. Spent last season on CAL/EDM.

-       Report out of Arizona News that 2 anonymous groups are interested in buying the Coyotes besides Ice Edge. However, they only remain as viable options and the table is still set between Ice Edge, city of Glendale and the NHL.

-       “There was a different side of the story. So I just try to make note of that. And if there’s some out there that think I’m full of crap, then whatever, that’s fine. I hope Burke and that organization have success, but I signed here in Vancouver and gear up for main camp and hopefully have a chance to make the team. If not, I’ll start in Manitoba and build my way up.” ~Bill Sweatt quote Aug.26, in Vancouver.

-       I will have more in-depth coverage on Bill Sweatt coming up…

-       Kyle Turris was disappointed to be sent down to play in San Antonio (AHL), but he admits he learned a lot. Ready to make a jump back in the NHL at 185lbs.

-       Tim Kennedy found a team that wants him: New York Rangers. He signed a 1-way deal to stay with the big club.

-       Lee Stempniak signed a 2-year deal worth 1.9mil a year. First year is 1.5mil, second year is 2.3mil. Big discount from his previous 3.5mil. Maybe he should have signed a 1-year deal.

-       September is just around the corner and Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro is optimistic he has strengthened his knee to a point that he can return to old form this season. Still unsure when he will be back at full speed.

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