On Monday, NHL arbitrator Richard Block deemed the NHL was justified in rejecting Ilya Kovalchuck’s 17 year $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils.
In the aftermath, there has been significant discussion about other, similar front-loaded and the NHL has stated that other controversial contracts will be up for review. Long term deals that continue paying high salaries long after a players peak performance years are becoming more and more popular in the NHL as a way to circumvent the league’s salary cap.
Specifically named in Block’s report have been: Vancouver Canucks Robert Luongo, Chicago Blackhawks Marian Hossa, Philadelphia Flyers Chris Pronger and Boston Bruin‘s Marc Savard.
Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks‘ general manager has said that the league will be reviewing goalie Roberto Luongo’s 12-year, $64 million contract. Luongo will make $1million in his final year when he is 43 years old (consider the oldest goalie to appear in a NHL playoff game ever was 44 year old Johnny Bower in 1969).
Similarly, Hossa signed a 12-year, $62.8 million contract where he will earn $1 million or less in his final 4 seasons and will expire when he is 42 years old.
Chris Pronger‘s 7 year, $35 million contract extension will begin this season and see him earn just $5.5 million in the final 3 years and expire when he is 42.
The forth player mentioned, Marc Savard has a 7 year, $28.05 million contract where he will receive just over $1 million in his final 2 years, finishing when he is 39.
As a point of reference, the average of NHL players in the 2007-2008 season was 28.66 years old and usually ranges between 24 – 28 years. While the average age on the 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Championship Chicago Blackhawks was 25.
The ramifications of Block’s decision will also have a big impact on the collective bargaining agreement negotiations that are set to begin soon. The current CBA expires in 2011.
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