Big Deal - Ilya Kovalchuk Contract Approved by NHL
Sunday, September 05, 2010
by Bodog Sportsbook
It’s official, Ilya Kovalchuk has signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, the deal was approved by the NHL on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 1 AM EST.
In early August, Gary Bettman and company thwarted a contract that would have seen the Devils ink Kovalchuk to a 17-year, front-loaded deal that quite obviously circumvented the league’s suspect Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The announcement, made early Saturday morning, was previously scheduled for 5 PM on Friday, and before that, Wednesday. Eventually the league could delay no longer given the amount of precedent contracts that have seen players sign excessively long contracts.
The NHL’s hesitation and concern is only natural given that the original 17-year deal would have locked up Ilya Kovalchuk until he was 44 years old. Unfortunately, until the CBA is amended, this is one loophole that teams will look to exploit.
Four years ago the New York Islanders signed Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract. Both Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (13/2 odds to win the 2011 Stanley Cup) and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks (9/1 odds to win the 2011 Stanley Cup) have signed 10-year-plus contracts as well.
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One can imagine why the Devils had fought so valiantly to re-acquire the services of the 27-year-old superstar. In five of his past six seasons, Kovalchuk has topped the 85-point mark.
After trading with the Atlanta Thrashers for Kovalchuk at the February deadline last season, the Devils will look to bounce back from a disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, making them a safe bet this season in the NHL. Then again, is there such a thing?
At the very least…between Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and goaltender Martin Brodeur, expect the team to contend as they have done for much of the past decade. Currently at Bodog's online sportsbook, the Devils are at 15/1 odds of winning the 2011 Stanley Cup.
Do you like those odds? Bet on New Jersey Devils Futures at Bodog Canadian Sportsbook and Bodog Sportsbook.
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alex ovechkin - atlanta thrashers - ilya kovalchuk - live betting - martin brodeur - montreal canadiens - new jersey devils - new york islanders - rick dipietro - roberto luongo
