NHL Fines New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello Denies Wrongdoing

In what feels like a never-ending saga, the NHL has levied fines against the New Jersey Devils over their attempt to circumvent the collective bargaining agreement with regards to the 17-year, $102 million contract extended to Ilya Kovalchuk in late July.

With Kovalchuk now signed to a 15-year, $100 million contract to play in New Jersey, the NHL has elected to go forward with disciplining the Devils for their prior actions, slapping the team with a $3 million fine and a loss of a first round draft choice and a third round draft choice, respectively.

The Devils will determine when they will give up the future first round draft pick after the conclusion of the 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014 Stanley Cup Finals.

In a statement released to the press, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello appeared to be in disagreement with the Leagues penalties saying, “...We disagree with the decision. We acted in good faith and did nothing wrong. We will have no further comment."

Lamoriello has stated all along that he felt that he and the Devils organization did nothing wrong with regard to attempting to sign Kovalchuk to the 17-year, $102 million deal, even if the entire hockey world could see the contract for what it was; hogwash!

Clearly, while Lamoriello appears to disagree with Commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision, hockey fans everywhere are just glad to see this debacle ending, once and for all.