NHLPA Files Kovalchuk Grievance
The Ilya Kovalchuk saga continues to roll along. The NHLPA today announced their intentions to file a grievance on behalf of Kovalchuk. The grievance addresses the problematic 17-year contract that was rejected by the NHL.
“The NHLPA has filed a grievance disputing the NHL’s rejection of the Standard Player Contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk. Under the terms of the CBA, the NHLPA and Mr. Kovalchuk are entitled to an expedited resolution of this matter. The NHLPA will have no further comment until this matter has been resolved by an Arbitrator,” said an official statement from the Player’s Association.
The NHL had little to say, with Bill Daly offering a statement that was similar to what the NHLPA had to say. He, too, said that no further comment would be made into the resolution of the matter.
The Kovalchuk saga carried off into its next phase after the NHL rejected the 17-year deal between the Russian and the New Jersey Devils. The league said that the deal “deliberately circumvented” the NHL’s salary caps rules.
The next step is for an arbitrator to rule. If the arbitration lands in the favour of Kovy and the NHLPA, the deal will stand as it is. If not, Kovalchuk would be back to being an unrestricted free agent. The process could take a little longer because there is currently no arbitrator in place, so the parties involved will have to agree to one.
The good news is that once an arbitrator is hired, the case must be resolved within 48 hours.
At this point and time, all we can do is wait for this long process to be over with. If Kovalchuk does have to return to unrestricted free agency, there’ll be no shortage of opportunities for teams to snap him up. The Devils may well put together a reconstructed offer, too, so Kovy still could end up darn well anywhere.
Posted by Jordan Richardson.
