The Ilya Kovalchuk saga is nearing it’s end, finally. At this time it seems to be real.
A date for the hearing to decide whether or not the NHL had a right to reject the heavily front-loaded 17-year $102-million dollar deal had been set for this Tuesday.
Here is more from Tom Gulitti:
The hearing to decide the grievance about Ilya Kovalchuk’s rejected contract will begin Tuesday in Boston, his mother, Luba Kovalchuk, reportedly told Sovetsky Sport—according to Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov. Luba Kovalchuk said her son delayed his return to Russia to attend the two-day hearing.
Kovalchuk is not required to attend the hearing, in which "system" arbitrator Richard Bloch will determine whether Kovalchuk’s 17-year, $102 million contract with the Devils complies with the collective bargaining agreement or if the NHL was correct in rejecting the contract. If Bloch upholds the league’s decision, Kovalchuk will become an unrestricted free agent.
The two-day hearing will obviousloy take place tomorrow, and it’s ramifications will be immense either way. Regardless of what happens this saga finally seems to be drawing to an end.
Stay tuned here and at In Lou We Trust for more.