Ilya Kovalchuk, Again....

Well, we are now into August with what has been a pretty stinking ridiculous summer in regards to Ilya Kovalchuk. I have written a number of posts regarding Ilya and his quest to be the highest paid player in the league. The latest being his filing a grievance after the NHL denied his insane contract. All of it starting because he wouldn't back down from the number that he absolutely positively knew that he was worth. I'll say again, I didn't think that there was a guy that could come off looking worse in free agency than LeBron did, but Kovy has definitely done it.

Well, the grievance hearing has been heard by an arbitrator, and we have learned that it looks like everything is going to be said and done on Monday. Apparently, most experts seem to think that this is pretty much an unwinnable case for the NHL, since there really isn't anything in the CBA that says this type of contract is illegal. The only thing that the CBA says is that a team cannot build a salary that circumvents the salary cap, which is hard to prove. But come on!! Look at Kovy's contract! You cannot honestly look at this, especially knowing little space the Devils have in their salary cap, and not conclude that they did this so his absurd number don't fully bite them in the rear end. I mean, I still don't understand how it works, which is why I don't work for capgeek, that a player can be being paid 11.5 million dollars in a season, yet his cap hit is still only 6 million. That just doesn't make sense to me. I, personally, can't even begin to think of it in any other terms than circumventing the salary cap, and can't really see how any impartial, logical person could either.

Kovy seems so dead set on this 17 year thing, and the KHL has even offered him a 17 year deal WITH THE TEAM OF HIS CHOICE, for crying out loud! This sort of thing is kind of why I figured Kovy would end up in Russia for the next few seasons, but I guess it will all hinge on this decision. I would not be surprised at all, if Kovy loses this arbitration hearing, to see him go to Russia because he knows that they will kiss his rear end until the borscht comes home. And at this point, I'm happy to see him go. A loss in this arbitration for the NHL basically sets up the fighting point for the next CBA. In my eyes, it almost assures a lockout, and that would be absolutely deadly to the NHL. So, once again, Kovy, just go to Russia. They'll be more than happy to tell you whatever it is you want to hear. We would miss your talent in the NHL, but not your attitude.