- Eric Macramalla of Offside: A Sports Law Blog: Provides a legal analysis of the Kovalchuk decision. Also provided the 20 page decision document.
- Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: Due to the Kovalchuk ruling; Roberto Luongo, Chris Pronger, Marian Hossa, and Marc Savard’s front loaded contracts could come under review. Mike Gillis confirmed that Luongo’s contract is under review by the NHL. Luongo signed a 12 year deal that will take him to the age of 43, where he’ll earn $1 million, down from the $10 million he’ll earn next season. Arbitrator Bloch wrote, ” has a 12-year agreement that will end when he is 43. After averaging some $7,000,000 per year for the first 9 years of the Agreement, Luongo will receive an average of about 1.2 million during his last 3 years, amounting to some 5.7% of the total compensation during that time period.”
- Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy: It seems farfetched that the NHL could backtrack and nix the Marian Hossa deal, as he’s already a year into it. Pronger, Luongo, and Savard’s deals have all not started yet. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg’s deals are also a year in.
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: The decision noted about Pronger’s, Luongo’s, Hossa’s and Savard’s deals; “Those players’ contracts are being investigated currently with at least the possibility of a subsequent withdrawal of the registration.” Agents are alarmed that some contracts are being investigated that are already in effect.
“I’ve never heard of a contract that had been registered and approved and then having that registration withdrawn,” said one agent, who requested to remain anonymous.
“The league has two months now to go after Savard, Pronger and Luongo . Until they start getting paid, they’ve got two months.”
Lou Lamoriello confirmed that theyare in discussions with Kovalchuk’s agent. The Kings could also re-enter, they had a 15-year deal worth $80 million ($5.33 million cap hit) on the table before Kovalchuk signed with the Devils. The KHL is still an option, but a long shot.
- Adam Proteau via twitter: “if I’m a CHI or VAN fan, I’m praying contracts of Hossa & Luongo are voided.”
- A couple weeks ago we compared some of the long term contracts of the players noted above, take a look at their year-to-year breakdown.
