Actual News (for a change)

For all of the ideas (or non-ideas) that I have for today's piece, all of that will have to wait for another day, as today brings (gasp) actual news.  Remember when Ilya Kovalchuk signed that ridiculous 17 year deal that went for about $102 million with the New Jersey Devils, only to have the NHL reject that deal?

Well, that went to an arbitrator, who ruled in favor of the NHL, which means Kovalchuk is once again, a free agent.  That also means the saga of Kovalchuk drags on for at least another few days, which shouldn't be surprising, since before he signed that deal in the first place, it took over two weeks from the start of free agency before he even agreed to the deal.

Now, as for where Kovalchuk can go, the Devils are still in play, as they can re-open negotiations with him.  The Los Angeles Kings are in it again, though I believe that they won't be breaking the bank for him unless he takes a fairly significant pay cut from the triple digits that he signed for originally.  They still have to think about guys like Drew Doughty, who among others, is slated to be on the market next year.  The New York Islanders are a possible destination, although I think they should not sign him, as it would be yet another idiotic signing from a New York team.  To give some background, the New York Rangers have signed the likes of Ales Kotalik, Donald Brashear, and now, Derek Boogaard, and have gotten next to nothing in return, though it remains to be seen on Boogaard, though four years is too much for an enforcer.  The Islanders haven't made as many idiotic signings, but the years for which the players they have signed them for is quite horrid.  Remember Alexei Yashin and his 10 year deal back in 2001?  They ate that contract in 2007 and are still paying on that deal.  How about Rick DiPietro and his 15 year deal back in 2006?  Concussions have made him a shell of his former self, and no one knows if he will ever suit up for an NHL team again, let alone the Islanders.  Back to the topic, Kovalchuk can always consider the KHL, the Russian league that has been something of a haven for hockey players looking for that one final big payday.

Whatever Kovalchuk decides, the perception that he is a "me first" guy is going to be there for a while, and anything close to $80 million will be too much for a guy whose sole purpose is to score goals and a guy who plays next to no defense and in the short sample of postseason appearances, doesn't show up too often.