But the saga’s not .. yet.
Yes, the 48-hour hearing is over. Both the NHL and the NHLPA have laid their cards on the table, and have tried to convince arbitrator Richard Bloch that their view of the situation is correct.
Now it becomes decision time for Bloch as both the NHL (and all their fans) and Ilya Kovalchuk sit on the edge of their seats waiting for the ruling.
Tom Gulitti from Fire and Ice doesn’t expect a decision before Monday however:
System arbitrator Richard Bloch has until the end of business on Monday to submit his decision to the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.
From what I’ve been told, Bloch’s ruling likely won’t come before Monday.
I’m sure there there will be an obvious vested interest from nearly everyone in the NHL. Most people that you talk to have drawn their own battle lines on the matter. Some think that a deal like this will aid to another lockout. Others claim that — while deals like this aren’t good for the NHL — the deal was perfectly legal in terms of the current CBA.
As it is right now, no one knows what will happen next. All I know is that we’re in familiar territory once again with the Kovalchuk saga, waiting.