News Source: New York Post

http://www.nypost.com/

FOX Sports: Where Devils can cut

The hockey world awaited word this weekend from the National Hockey League about whether or not it would accept the latest contract proposal from the Devils for superstar winger Ilya Kovalchuk. If the 15-year, $100 million deal is approved, Lou Lamoriello’s work won’t be done, as it’ll...

Devs face Ilya hit

It's difficult to fathom, but rumors are floating that Travis Zajac may be among the players the Devils will eventually sacrifice to get under the salary cap if Ilya Kovalchuk's $100 million, 15-year contract is approved by the NHL. Conventional wisdom suggests Bryce Salvador ($2.9 million) and...

Ilya to start chain reaction

When one headache ends, another begins for general manager Lou Lamoriello, who must decide who goes if Ilya Kovalchuk stays. The Devils and Kovalchuk are waiting to see if the NHL will bless their union this time. The contract submitted for NHL registration Friday reportedly covers 15 years for a...

New Ilya deal in NHL's hands

In what may be their last chance to keep Ilya Kovalchuk in North America this season, the Devils are waiting -- again -- for the NHL to approve their latest contract, submitted yesterday. If, as expected, the league OKs this deal, it will end a saga that reached 59 days...

Kovalchuk, Devils on verge of deal

This contract is supposed to stick. For the umpteenth time since July 1, the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk are believed to be on the verge of a deal Friday, the difference being that this one will receive approval from the NHL. Kovalchuk reportedly issued a deadline of this weekend for...

Report: Kovy has deadline for NHL

Apparently fed up with his career becoming the NHL's salary cap battleground, Ilya Kovalchuk reportedly has set a deadline for the league to approve a contract with the Devils this weekend -- or he plans to sign to play this season in Russia. The league turned down Kovalchuk's...

Devs reworking Kovalchuk deal

With time now dwindling before training camp, it's becoming increasingly likely that the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk will have to play hardball right back at the NHL. To get the two-time 52-goal scorer back on-ice in New Jersey for the Sept. 17 start of training camp, the Devils might...

NHL: Kovalchuk deal's a no-go

The Devils' hopes to sign Ilya Kovalchuk have been confounded again, denied encouragement from the NHL on their second try at a contract, The Post has learned. Now, the NHL is risking being the culprit if one of its most talented players leaves for Russia, as time becomes a factor...

Devils run new Ilya pact by league

This time, according to reports, the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk's agent ran their contract scheme past the NHL instead of up the flagpole. This time, they hope the league salutes. Kovalchuk's new contract with the Devils could pass muster, perhaps as soon as today, if the NHL approves...

Devils meet with NHL, likely over new Kovalchuk deal: reports

Devils management met with NHL officials today, likely to discuss a new contract offer to Ilya Kovalchuk, according to reports. ESPN.com reports, "NJ owner Jeff Vanderbeek, NJ GM Lou Lamoriello and Ilya Kovalchuk's agent Jay Grossman met with NHL execs at league's NY office today." Yahoo! Sports...

Heat's on Devs over Ilya, Zach

It's really what late Devils owner John McMullen meant when he said "You don't want 50-goal scorers. Then you have to pay them." The update is you have a huge cap hit. It was a nice try, elegant even, and the Devils' attempt to keep Ilya Kovalchuk's...

Kovalchuk in Russia, in good spirits: report

Ilya Kovalchuk is training in Russia and is in good spirits after his 17-year contract with the Devils was ruled invalid by an arbitrator. Yahoo! Sports, using reports from Russia newspaper SovSport, says Kovalchuk's agent has not discussed renewing talks with the country's KHL about the star left...

Player agent: Kovalchuk's deal should have been OK'd

The Devils refuse to comment on the arbitrator's decision to void their 17-year contract with Ilya Kovalchuk. But a veteran NHL player agent with a somewhat vested interest has no problem speaking out. "The decision was completely subjective," Roberto Luongo's agent, Kurt Overhardt, told the Vancouver Sun. "There...

Devils GM says team will do 'whatever we possibly can' to keep Kovalchuk: report

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said Tuesday he doesn't know if or when the team will be able to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to another contract after their first agreement was nixed by an arbitrator. Lamoriello told NJ.com "I don't have any idea" how long it would take to...

Beware, Blackhawks: Ilya decision ammo for Bettman

The Blackhawks had better enjoy that 2010 Stanley Cup while they can, because yesterday's circumvention ruling against the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk means that the NHL now has license to pursue a similar case against Chicago and Marian Hossa, with potential victory in that action giving commissioner Gary Bettman...

Arbitrator rejects Ilya deal with Devs

It's back to the past, back to July 1 and unrestricted free agency for Ilya Kovalchuk, whose landmark $102 million, 17-year contract with the Devils was permanently voided by an arbitrator yesterday. The Devils and Kovalchuk already have started reworking the contract, but it won't be simple to...

Devils lose Kovalchuk case

Ilya Kovalchuk's contract with the Devils, the cornerstone of the francise's future, was permanently annulled by arbitration ruling today. New Jersey now will be hard-pressed to reassemble a deal that will satisfy the star winger, the NHL and the salary cap combined. Arbitrator Richard Bloch this afternoon upheld...

Devils waiting for Ilya decision today

The Devils are expected to learn today if they're as successful opposing the league's will as they have been in supporting it. Arbitrator Richard Bloch is expected to rule today whether to uphold the NHL's rejection of the Devils' $102 million, 17-year contract with Ilya Kovalchuk. If...

Former Devils center Madden signs with Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild say they have agreed to terms with veteran center John Madden on a one-year contract. Terms of the deal announced Friday were not disclosed. The 37-year-old has won three Stanley Cup titles in his career, two with the Devils amd last season with...

Devs owner not at Ilya hearing

If he's worried about how the Ilya Kovalchuk hearing will turn out, Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek didn't show it. Vanderbeek said yesterday he did not attend the two-day hearing in Boston that ended earlier yesterday, and then he said he had not been given any report on what...

Devils owner not at Ilya hearing

If he's worried about how the Ilya Kovalchuk hearing will turn out, Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek didn't show it. Vanderbeek said yesterday he did not attend the two-day hearing in Boston that ended earlier yesterday, and then he said he had not been given any report on what...

Kovalchuk hearing over, decision by Monday

The arbitration hearing on the status of Ilya Kovalchuk's contract with the Devils has ended and a decision is expected by Monday, NHL.com reports. "(Arbitrator Richard) Bloch spent the last two days listening to arguments from the NHL and the NHLPA. It is unknown if anybody from the...

Nhl set for Ilya hearing

If it isn't already inevitable, an expected NHL defeat in the Ilya Kovalchuk contract case would likely increase the chances of a third lockout in 2012-13. The mind-boggling, endurance-testing ninth chapter of the Kovalchuk Saga opens in Boston today, and it certainly won't be the final one, whichever...