Will it end today? Devils could be punished … Savard’s agent goes off
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9:23 am: David Pagnotta via twitter: Rumor that Kovalchuk deal was rejected, but the both sides (NHL and NHLPA) are trying to make it fit. A decision is not expected today.

8:38 am:

  • Jimmy Murphy via twitter: Murphy was informed that the New Jersey Devils could receive a $1-3 million fine, and loss of 2 1st round draft picks.
  • Scott Burnside of ESPN: The ‘ultimatum’ on the NHLPA from the NHL is “100% off the mark. Absolutely no truth to it” according to a source. The source also added, “It looks like we are close and I can honestly tell you everybody comes out lookin’ good on this one.”
  • James Mirtle via twitter: If the NHL and NHLPA can find common ground, Kovalchuk’s contract will likely be accepted, and would likely be the last of the ‘cap-bending’ contracts.
  • Craig Custance of the Sporting News: A source told the Sporting News that “It’s possible both sides are going to come out looking good.” (Unfortunately this situation has looked bad for at least the last month). The NHLPA declined to vote on installing Donald Fehr as their executive director on Wednesday night over concerns of his demands (from a Nick Kypreos tweet, Fehr is looking for $7.5 million through 2012).
  • TSN: Marc Savard’s agent, Larry Kelly on the Team 1200 in Ottawa,

    “I’d really like to see a true commissioner style, someone who has the best interest of the game in mind rather than the situation they have now,” Kelly told the TEAM. “Bettman is (like) the president of the league and he clearly is on the owners’ side on every issue. I really think it should be a commissioner. With a commissioner you have somebody who is totally independent and I think it would be a much less acrimonious situation.”

  • James Murphy of ESPN Boston: Larry Kelly also went on to say that if Marc Savard’s contract voided and he became a free agent, he wouldn’t receive a fair offer as many teams are up against the cap and training camp starts in 2 weeks. Kelly also added in the Team 1200 interview that if Savard’s contract was rejected, “You can imagine the lawsuit that would ensue”.