NHL Extends Deadline On Kovalchuk Devils Deal

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL has extended its deadline to Friday for approving Ilya Kovalchuk's $100 million, 15-year contract with the New Jersey Devils.

The league and the NHL Players' Association announced the new deadline Wednesday.

The NHL has already rejected a front-loaded, 17-year deal valued at $102 million because the structure of the deal would have circumvented the league's salary cap. An independent arbitrator upheld that decision.

The Devils and Kovalchuk submitted the new contract to the league last Friday.

"We remain optimistic that this extension will result in an approval of the contract and that Ilya Kovalchuk will remain a valuable member of the Devils for the balance of his career," Devils president Lou Lamoriello said. "We will have no further comment until the decision is rendered."

New Jersey Devils President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello today issued the following statement:

"We have today been advised that the NHL and the NHLPA have agreed to extend until Friday the decision on whether to approve or reject the latest contract between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils.

"We remain confident that the terms of this contract comply, in every respect, with the CBA and meet both the NHL's concerns and the principles of Arbitrator Bloch's decision. We remain optimistic that this extension will result in an approval of the contract and that Ilya Kovalchuk will remain a valuable member of the Devils for the balance of his career.

"We will have no further comment until the decision is rendered."