Devils, Kovalchuk Deal Finally Approved by NHL

After a few tweaks here and there, the NHL has finally approved the long-term deal between NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils. The tweaked contract is now a 15-year deal worth $100 million. The Devils were previously trying to sign Kovalchuk to a 17-year deal worth $102 million but the NHL intervened and weren’t going to let that happen. I guess 2 less years and 2 million dollars less was enough to get the NHL on the Devils’ side.

“He can definitely break a game open when it’s needed. I think that’s what they were looking for last year when they brought him in. He can take them to the next step,” said Devil’s goalie Johan Hedberg of Kovalchuk.

For over a month the NHL has been negotiating with the NHLPA until they came to an agreement that would amend the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) rules dealing with contracts greater than 5-years in length. Apparently, getting Kovalchuk in a long term deal was worthy of some rule tweaking concerning the collective bargaining agreement.

Devils fans must be ecstatic knowing the Kovalchuk will more-than-likely retire as a New Jersey Devil.