NHL approves new Kovalchuk contract
Hockey Betting Lines
09/03/2010 -
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ilya Kovalchuk will finally join the New Jersey Devils after his re-submitted contract was reportedly approved by the National
Hockey League.
Additionally, according to TSN of Canada, the league and the NHL Players'
Association reached an agreement on an amendment to the rules that govern
long-term contracts. A report from The Record in New Jersey states that new
guidelines will be implemented regarding how the salary cap hit would be
calculated for long-term deals that go beyond the ages of 35 and 40.
Kovalchuk's initial 17-year, $102 million deal with the Devils was rejected by
the league on the grounds that it circumvented the league's salary cap. The
deal was front-loaded so Kovalchuk could have earned as much money as possible
while providing the lowest possible cap hit for the team.
The NHL Players' Association filed a grievance on Kovalchuk's behalf, but an
arbitrator ruled in favor of the league. His second deal is worth a reported
$100 million over 15 years, which provides an annual cap hit of $6.66 million.
The rejection of the contract provided much debate throughout the league in
terms of "lifetime" contracts given to players that have helped reduce the
yearly salary cap hit. Several players in previous years signed deals that
took them past 40 years of age and saw the annual salary dip below $1 million
in the final years of the contract.
Because of the league rules on player contracts after the age of 35, it was
conceivable that someone could retire before the deal had expired, wiping
the contract off the salary cap. This rule allowed teams to sign players to
front-loaded contracts to benefit both the team and player.
With the new guidelines in place regarding long-term deals and the CBA
negotiations that will occur in the next few years, it is likely that
Kovalchuk's contract is the last of its kind. Additionally, according to the
report in The Record, similar contracts that have been signed previously will
not be affected by the new rules.
Kovalchuk's deal will reportedly take the team about $3 million over the
salary cap with 21 players under contract, and the Devils will have to get
under the $59.4 million cap before the beginning of the season while adding
two more players to the roster.
Kovalchuk posted 41 goals and 85 points in 76 games last season, 10 goals
and 27 points coming in 27 games with New Jersey. In a five-game first-round
playoff loss, the 27-year-old added two goals and six points.
In 621 games since entering the league in 2001, the Russian star has
accumulated 338 goals and 642 points with Atlanta and New Jersey.
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Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
 Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
 It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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