This could finally be it. At least that's what the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk are hoping. Lou Lamoriello sure hopes the third time's the charm after submitting the much rumored 15-year, $100 million contract to the NHL Friday.
If it doesn't get Gary Bettman's signed stamp of approval, what's next for Kovalchuk? Should we take Russian agent Yuri Nikolaev at his word about the 48-hour deadline for a league that seems Hell bent on tossing one of their stars back to Russia where the 27 year-old sniper could wind up home in the KHL? That all depends on what comes out of today.
While this dark cloud hangs over Devil fans' heads, it also has been a huge detriment to hockey- negatively impacting other free agents who remain unsigned. That the marquee FA of this year's class could still possibly be without a contract as September looms is just nonsensical. But what else would you expect from a chaotic league intent on Armageddon II? Though if you count the post-'94 lockout, it's really No.3, which ironically enough was the last time their product was hot coming off a strong Cup with the Blackhawks ending a long drought in a great series with the Flyers.
No matter what's said out of league spin quarters, losing a player of Kovalchuk's caliber isn't good for business. Another rejection would only further draw a line in the sand, opening up a pandora's box for other stars who signed long-term deals.
Hopefully, some sanity will prevail this time. Just don't go in with too much enthusiasm.
Covering the Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Sabres five years running along with the rest of the puckers!
BONY
Battle Of New York
4 comments:
D-day will be Wednesday at 5 PM, you can pretty much put that in the bank. Everything else in this process has dragged out to the nth degree, why wouldn't this?
Wouldn't even shock me if there was no formal announcement or rubber-stamping of the deal, just a tacit non-rejection and putting the contract under ambiguous and never-ending 'investigation' like the Hossa deal.
UPDATE: Well according to TG the decision will be announced today (Tuesday) after all. Assuming TG's source isn't wrong, here's hoping our long national nightmare is finally over with.
i hope it is cause enough's enough already.
Well of course it's going to come down to the last day - again. And of course the reporters were wrong - again.
I swear if this league takes it to 5 PM Wednesday only to reject the contract, that's literally the equivalent of lifting a leg and taking a giant **** on Lou, Vanderbeek and Devils fans everywhere.
If that happens I promise you my post will make your Ranger rants look like amateur hour. Or Sanborn's Sabre rants for that matter.
Post a Comment