Here We Go Again: Ilya Kovalchuk Deadline Moved To Friday

Here we go again. We now have to wait another two days until this situation can be resolved.

The NHL and the NHLPA mutually decided that they should move the deadline for a decision to Friday at 5 pm.

All I can say is, if the NHL was okay with the proposed $100 million, 15-year contract, then they would have accepted it today. This leads me to believe that the deal will be rejected just like the previous offer. If they were to accept it, this will have been a giant waste of time.

This whole situation has gone on too long in my opinion. Wrong or not, the New Jersey Devils have given us one of the most embarrassing stories the NHL has ever faced. Not to mention this is most likely going to end with Kovalchuk going to play in the KHL.

That is where Gary Bettman has made his mistake. In losing Kovalchuk, he will be losing one of the top 10 players in the NHL, something that is never good. Maybe Kovy bolting to Russia will finally open Bettman's eyes about the threat the KHL is to the NHL.

Although, as I wrote in a previous article, Kovalchuk leaving could help the players fighting to play in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

I wish I could say this will all be over come 5 pm Friday, but if the NHL does reject the offer, the NHLPA will most likely file another grievance, making this deal take even longer than it already has.

I'll end this article with a personal message to Kovalchuk: Ilya, please sign with the KHL and put all of us out of our misery. We're begging you.