NHL: Kovalchuk Ready to Play Again
Kovalchuk congratulated by the Devil mates
It took him two months of negotiations in order to remain a New Jersey Devil after NHL rejected his 17-year deal with the team, but agreed with his 15-year contract. Friday saw Ilya Kovalchuk happy to talk about hockey again as he went crazy after the exhausting offseason caused by talks. He arrived at Prudential Center these days in order to take the physicals and medical tests along with the team. He declared delighted to see he and his family put under a certain future considering his 15-year stay in New Jersey.
“It is actually really good,” he would say. “I’m glad my family is all set and we know where we’re going to be for the next 15 years and that’s the most important thing. With three kids, that’s important to be sure of where we are,” Kovalchuk, whose 15-year deal was finally approved by the NHL but only after hard talks with Players’ Association, too, which negotiated the amendments with Collective Bargaining Agreement concerning player’s contract in the later years, added. “It’s always bad when you’re team is penalized but that’s a relationship between the owner and the GM and the League. It’s bad, but what are you going to do? It’s reality.” However, the point is that New Jersey are now about 4 million dollars over the salary cap as the contract say that one or two players will have to be replaced from the roster just before the season starts. General manager Lou Lamoriello didn’t name any player yet. As for Kovalchuk, he knows the situation is due to his contract, but doesn’t want to be disturbed by this, only to consider the upcoming season.
“My job is to play and Lou’s job is to find a way to work it out. My job now is to focus on the game and get ready for the season,” he said. Kovalchuk lives for the moment with his agent Jay Grossman as his family is in Florida. One of the players that might be considered for trade is Brian Rolston. He has two years remaining of contract. He barely scored 35 goals in the previous two seasons. Tavis Zajac and Patrik Elias might also be for trade. But if the first one leaves, then the Devils would keep only Jason Arnott as the only proven scoring center. As for Elias, this scored 19 goals in the previous season and had 29 assists in all the 58 games he played.
