NHL News: NHL Rejects Kovalchuk Deal With New Jersey Devils

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The superstar winger is once again a free agent.

The NHL rejected Kovalchuck’s 17-year $102 million deal because they said it circumvents the league’s salary cap.

In the NHL, players salaries are counted against the cap based on the average yearly pay. The 17-year Kovy deal had 6 years on the end of the deal where Kovalchuck was making less than $1 million per year dragging the average down giving the Devils a more cap friendly number. The contract would have kept Kovalchuk in New Jersey until he was 44.

“The contract has been rejected by the League as a circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “Under the CBA, the contract rejection triggers a number of possible next steps that may be elected by any or each of the NHLPA, the Player and/or the Club. In the interim, the player is not entitled to play under the contract, nor is he entitled to any of the rights and benefits that are provided for thereunder. The League will have no further comment on this matter pending further developments.”