I still to this day have no idea why the Kovy contract was "different" or worse. The league never should've waited so long to put their foot down. Anyone who wants to argue some of those other contracts as being legit vs the Kovalchuk contract are just being homers & Devils haters.

Who remembered Huet disappearing to another league so Chicago could avoid his horrible contract? Luongo? Hossa? Pronger? Franzen? Zetterberg? It was crap in the first place.

I still to this day have no idea why the Kovy contract was "different" or worse. The league never should've waited so long to put their foot down. Anyone who wants to argue some of those other contracts as being legit vs the Kovalchuk contract are just being homers & Devils haters.

Who remembered Huet disappearing to another league so Chicago could avoid his horrible contract? Luongo? Hossa? Pronger? Franzen? Zetterberg? It was crap in the first place.
- FLdevilsFAN

On top of moving players to other leagues, the Pronger contract leading to the +35 rule, Detroit inventing the circumventing deal and Luongos deal there was also the ditch the contract in the AHL move ala Finger and Redden. Also let's not forget Lous first bit of creativity, send a first round pick out with a contract you don't like (Mogilny) and be free of the cap hit. The fact that the Kovy deal was the first and only to be punished is a joke.

Yeah, it's a joke alright, almost as big of a joke as an original 6 team that hasn't won a cup in the expansion era. And almost as big of a joke as the league giving everyone two freebies to get out of any contracts they like, but fans getting pissy that Kovy retired out of a contract. Tell me, what is the difference between Kovy retiring or a team using a compliance buy out to get out of a contract? By the way speaking of contracts that helped the league get out of control how did the Jeff Finger deal work out? Oh, I forgot, The Laughs buried him the AHL to avoid his hit, no circumventing the cap there, right? Get off your high horse you (frank)ing idiot.
- smellmyfinger

Ok dumdum...where did I say anything about Kovi's retiring, or the Devils getting out of his contract? (Although, now that you mention it...was there any chance the team gets sold with that contract still on the books? Yeah...not much)

Secondly, what the difference between a compliance buyout and Kovi "retiring"? I dunno...about $80,000,000? Just spit-balling here, but that seems like a big number. That would have taken a bunch of 6,000 fan games to pay for I assume.

Thirdly, are you so stupid that you think the Leafs buried Finger because of his contract? I feel bad for you.

On top of moving players to other leagues, the Pronger contract leading to the +35 rule, Detroit inventing the circumventing deal and Luongos deal there was also the ditch the contract in the AHL move ala Finger and Redden. Also let's not forget Lous first bit of creativity, send a first round pick out with a contract you don't like (Mogilny) and be free of the cap hit. The fact that the Kovy deal was the first and only to be punished is a joke.
- smellmyfinger

The NHL rejected the first Kovi deal and gave NJ another chance at not cheating the system. When Lou blatantly made another cheating deal the NHL rightfully threw the book at them. NJ was supposed to forfeit a 1st rounder, but that was mysteriously changed.

Every other team was punished by the changes in the CBA and recapture penalties. BTW...the +35 rule predated the Pronger deal.

Ok dumdum...where did I say anything about Kovi's retiring, or the Devils getting out of his contract? (Although, now that you mention it...was there any chance the team gets sold with that contract still on the books? Yeah...not much)

Secondly, what the difference between a compliance buyout and Kovi "retiring"? I dunno...about $80,000,000? Just spit-balling here, but that seems like a big number. That would have taken a bunch of 6,000 fan games to pay for I assume.

Thirdly, are you so stupid that you think the Leafs buried Finger because of his contract? I feel bad for you.
- djamon

Finger got buried for 2 seasons starting in 2010. His hit was 3.5 million, the NHL cap was 56.8 million. Meaning Finger accounted for 6% of their cap. Seems convenient to bury that, no?

I understand the payment due in a buyout. I was speaking about the cap hit, since we were talking about circumventing the cap.

The reference to retiring, was when you said it was a joke if he were allowed to return.

Cute comment about the 6,000 fans. Have fun paying 4 times the league average for a ticket to watch a team that makes the playoffs about once a decade and wins a cup about once every 40 years. I forgot about all the cups teams like the Rangers and Laughs have won due to solid attendance.

The NHL rejected the first Kovi deal and gave NJ another chance at not cheating the system. When Lou blatantly made another cheating deal the NHL rightfully threw the book at them. NJ was supposed to forfeit a 1st rounder, but that was mysteriously changed.

Every other team was punished by the changes in the CBA and recapture penalties. BTW...the +35 rule predated the Pronger deal.
- djamon

It wasn't the second contract that earned them the lost picks, it was the first. The NHL approved the second, and actually suggested revisions to the first that allowed the second one to get through. Research it.

The NHL rejected the first Kovi deal and gave NJ another chance at not cheating the system. When Lou blatantly made another cheating deal the NHL rightfully threw the book at them. NJ was supposed to forfeit a 1st rounder, but that was mysteriously changed.

Every other team was punished by the changes in the CBA and recapture penalties. BTW...the +35 rule predated the Pronger deal.
- djamon

My mistake, I thought the Pronger deal was what led to that rule. Especially since his contract went from 7 mil down to 575k for two years, yet again though, no draft picks lost.

It's already a (frank)ing joke that NJ didn't actually have to forfeit a 1st rounder, if he's allowed to come back before his cheating contract is up it would be a farce.
- djamon

you're right, Pronger, Hossa, and Savard's deals were spot on.

I still to this day have no idea why the Kovy contract was "different" or worse. The league never should've waited so long to put their foot down. Anyone who wants to argue some of those other contracts as being legit vs the Kovalchuk contract are just being homers & Devils haters.

Who remembered Huet disappearing to another league so Chicago could avoid his horrible contract? Luongo? Hossa? Pronger? Franzen? Zetterberg? It was crap in the first place.
- FLdevilsFAN

I remembered ALL of these when we lost an important draft pick, while all these other teams get to enjoy their front loaded contracts to lower the cap hit of their lovely players, without losing a coveted, valuable, first round pick. How wonderful for them. Charming.

On top of moving players to other leagues, the Pronger contract leading to the +35 rule, Detroit inventing the circumventing deal and Luongos deal there was also the ditch the contract in the AHL move ala Finger and Redden. Also let's not forget Lous first bit of creativity, send a first round pick out with a contract you don't like (Mogilny) and be free of the cap hit. The fact that the Kovy deal was the first and only to be punished is a joke.
- smellmyfinger

To be fair, Lou also ditched players in the AHL (Grant Marshall comes to mind).

Mogilny got off the books due to medical issues. (This infuriated the 29 other league GMs who thought Lou got special treatment.) Also helped lead to the "Mogilny" rule and contracts for over 35 years of age players.

The guy you were trying to think of that Lou traded to the Sharks with a first round pick to jettison about 3.5 million of cap hit salary was Vladimir Malakhov.

Gotta love leaf fans. It doesnt really matter if there is 6000 of you or 1,000,000,000,000,000 of you it hasnt helped win a single cup since when? 67? but it has help make the whiniest fan base in the league. If phil kessel (frank)ed off on them they would try to shut the entire nhl down. Be sure to let the rest of us know when you guys have finally invented the time machine.

Gotta love leaf fans. It doesnt really matter if there is 6000 of you or 1,000,000,000,000,000 of you it hasnt helped win a single cup since when? 67? but it has help make the whiniest fan base in the league. If phil kessel (frank)ed off on them they would try to shut the entire nhl down. Be sure to let the rest of us know when you guys have finally invented the time machine.
- blizzzard

The world is doomed if the leafs ever sniff the Stanley cup final, let alone win it.

The world is doomed if the leafs ever sniff the Stanley cup final, let alone win it.
- shvingter88

hey man i am 24 and i am confident they wont win it in my lifetime. What makes me laugh is when some of them say that if they beat Boston they would of made it all the way to the finals because the bruins did lmao so i guess if florida had of beat us in game 7 they woulf of made it to the finals because we did like how does that logic make even the least bit of sense ?

hey man i am 24 and i am confident they wont win it in my lifetime. What makes me laugh is when some of them say that if they beat Boston they would of made it all the way to the finals because the bruins did lmao so i guess if florida had of beat us in game 7 they woulf of made it to the finals because we did like how does that logic make even the least bit of sense ?
- blizzzard

Never say never

Never say never
- shvingter88

oh im not lol unfortunately I wont live forever

oh im not lol unfortunately I wont live forever
- blizzzard

We need to put you in a bubble

The NHL rejected the first Kovi deal and gave NJ another chance at not cheating the system. When Lou blatantly made another cheating deal the NHL rightfully threw the book at them. NJ was supposed to forfeit a 1st rounder, but that was mysteriously changed.

Every other team was punished by the changes in the CBA and recapture penalties. BTW...the +35 rule predated the Pronger deal.
- djamon

Exactly this. The main reason the Devils got penalized is that it was a slap in the face when they submitted a similar contract after the first one got banned.

However, even then, it's unfair for the Devils that other deals were allowed to go through and the Devils deal was rejected in the first place. The Devils basically turned into the team that took the sacrifice for the NHL to come down stricter on these deals.

Exactly this. The main reason the Devils got penalized is that it was a slap in the face when they submitted a similar contract after the first one got banned.

However, even then, it's unfair for the Devils that other deals were allowed to go through and the Devils deal was rejected in the first place. The Devils basically turned into the team that took the sacrifice for the NHL to come down stricter on these deals.
- _Zippy_

It was absolutely unfair, the NHL (frank)ed the Devils and made an example of them with the Kovy contract, and they totally acknowledged that they did by giving the 1st rounder back. Yes it was a 30, but it is still somewhat satisfying that it was acknowledged.

It was absolutely unfair, the NHL (frank)ed the Devils and made an example of them with the Kovy contract, and they totally acknowledged that they did by giving the 1st rounder back. Yes it was a 30, but it is still somewhat satisfying that it was acknowledged.
- TRDevil

They gave back half of the money that was taken too. Should have given us an extra third because they took that too.

They gave back half of the money that was taken too. Should have given us an extra third because they took that too.
- shvingter88

They should have given us all blow jobs, if they were going to (frank) us, at least they could have given us the reach around. Fair is fair.

To be fair, Lou also ditched players in the AHL (Grant Marshall comes to mind).

Mogilny got off the books due to medical issues. (This infuriated the 29 other league GMs who thought Lou got special treatment.) Also helped lead to the "Mogilny" rule and contracts for over 35 years of age players.

The guy you were trying to think of that Lou traded to the Sharks with a first round pick to jettison about 3.5 million of cap hit salary was Vladimir Malakhov.
- Downeaster

You're right it was Malakhov. And Lou ditching salary in the AHL absolutely helps make my point. The CBA was bent and in a lot of cases broken before and after the Kovy fiasco. Take a look at Shea Webers contract which was signed the season after Kovy (14 years, 110 million) that contract starts at 14 million and ends with three one million dollar seasons. I really think the only reason the Devils were punished is Lou had the balls to take the first contract to arbitration and it pissed Bettman off.

You're right it was Malakhov. And Lou ditching salary in the AHL absolutely helps make my point. The CBA was bent and in a lot of cases broken before and after the Kovy fiasco. Take a look at Shea Webers contract which was signed the season after Kovy (14 years, 110 million) that contract starts at 14 million and ends with three one million dollar seasons. I really think the only reason the Devils were punished is Lou had the balls to take the first contract to arbitration and it pissed Bettman off.
- smellmyfinger

I think part of the feeling may have been Lou saying " I've been outspoken against these deals for years, when we decide to do a contract similar to about 7 other deals around the league you have the audacity to wait until now to put the foot down? (frank) you, let's go to arbitration".
And of course the arbiter was hardly unbiased.
The ruling essentially became that Hossa can play to 42 but Kovy has no chance in hell of playing until 44 based on conjecture & the league and owners playing favorites to some franchises and not others.

As far as I can tell all they did was limit length and not the absurdly dramatic drop off in cap hit/salary in the final years of a deal, but I could be wrong.

To be fair, Lou also ditched players in the AHL (Grant Marshall comes to mind).

Mogilny got off the books due to medical issues. (This infuriated the 29 other league GMs who thought Lou got special treatment.) Also helped lead to the "Mogilny" rule and contracts for over 35 years of age players.

The guy you were trying to think of that Lou traded to the Sharks with a first round pick to jettison about 3.5 million of cap hit salary was Vladimir Malakhov.
- Downeaster

http://offsidesportsblog....ny-to-redden-burying.html

http://puckstopshere.blog...akhov-and-retirement.html

The Malakhov trade was a cap move and it didn't circumvent anything. Malakhov was going to retire, but than change his mind and since he didn't retire the team suspended him. Or according to Malakhov he was forced to retire, even though his agent saY he was going to take a "leave of absence."SJ was wiling to take the hit with a first as payment. They had to get under the cap because of the offer sheet that Elias signed and Gomez's arbritration ruling , and they had to sign Gionta and Martin still. Boston will have to do the same thing this year, get under the cap, but their situation won't be as ugly as the Malakhov's became. I'm sure if you look at every team, teams have made salary dumps for cap reasons. Philly and Boston are circumventing the cap with Pronger and Savard right now, Holmgren even admitted last year that Pronger will never play again and yet they still put him on LTIR.

If you want to talk about circumventing look no further than Parise and Suter.

http://capgeek.com/player/1044

http://capgeek.com/player/773

If you want to talk about circumventing look no further than Parise and Suter.

http://capgeek.com/player/1044

http://capgeek.com/player/773
- Devils9503

And if either retire before their 13 year deals are they Wild will be hit hard with the recapture penalty.