Kovalchuck Contract Going to Arbitration

Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk

The NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) has filed a grievance today on behalf of Ilya Kovalchuk in response to the NHL’s controversial decision to reject what would have been the longest contract in NHL history, consisting of a 17-year, $102 million dollar deal with the New Jersey Devils.

The NHL rejected the contract on the grounds that it “deliberately circumvented” the league’s salary cap by being too front loaded. In the agreement, Kovalchuk would receive just under 80 percent ($80 million) in the first 7 years, and 93 percent in the first 10 years.

The 27 year old Russian would be 44 years old when the deal expires in 2027. The controversial portion of the agreement comes in his final 5 years of the deal that would have him being paid the league minimum of $550,000 in an attempt to free up more room for the Devil’s under the salary cap.

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