NHL: Devils’ Kovalchuk deal a no-go – NYPOST.com
The Devils’ hopes to sign Ilya Kovalchuk have been confounded again, denied encouragement from the NHL on their second try at a contract, The Post has learned. [Re-signing Kovalchuk] became even more difficult yesterday as the NHL continued its hard line by criticizing the framework of a deal the Devils and Kovalchuk’s camp optimistically presented for comment Monday.
That’s a slight upgrade in detail from yesterday’s “talked conceptually.”
Reports: NHL rejects latest framework of a Kovalchuk deal – NHL – Sporting News
The NHL once again rejected the framework of a contract that the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk’s agent presented to league officials Monday in New York, the New York Post reports. […] The team and Grossman didn’t present a new contract, it was simply a structure and one of many they have put forth in the last couple of weeks, reports indicate. […] Kovalchuk has been considering playing in the KHL, and the Russian league’s season starts Sept. 8.
Sporting News repackages the Post story, upgrades “criticized” to “rejected” and and clarifies “framework” by calling it “structure.” Perhaps realizing they hadn’t yet reported anything, they throw in the detail that IK “has been considering” playing in the KHL. Not sure where they’re getting “one of many [structures] they have put forth.” That sounds like they’re reporting a new fact. Sounds like.
Fire & Ice – Reports: Devils and Kovalchuk need to go back to work again
According to multiple reports [see above?], the NHL did not approve the latest contract framework the Devils and Ilya Kovlachuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, presented at Monday’s meeting at league offices in Manhattan. […] Monday’s submission—not an actual contract—was not the first the Devils/Grossman made to the NHL since [the arbitrator’s ruling].
Multiple reports apparently means one report and some other reports reporting the first report. I’m not blaming “Fire and Ice.” I’m sure it’s just as hard for them as it is for the rest of us, to tell the difference between a first-generation “report” (what used to be called, you know, reporting) and a subsequent meta-report, which is generally what we refer to as blogging. F&I repeats (and/or confirms?) the Sporting News’ “report” that there have been many such submissions to the league. I still can’t tell who if anyone actually reported this.
Probably I should just stick to reading the meta gold-standard of Spector and Puck Daddy.
Spector’s Hockey – Latest on Kovalchuk and Bieksa.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kovalchuk camp was committed to signing a ten-year deal with an NHL team and we shouldn’t be too quick to assume he’ll play in Russia next season, but if that were to happen it would be a significant loss of one of the NHL’s top forwards. It’s going to be interesting to see what the Devils do next. Cue the return of the “Kings pursuing Kovalchuk/Rangers to trade Gaborik to Kings to make room for Kovalchuk” rumors in five…. four… three… two… one….
You mean something like, “Jewels from the Crown has learned from a high-placed source with internet access and knowledge of the situation that the ‘Kings pursuing Kovalchuk’ is back in play.”
Just to be clear, I made that up. I don’t have sources.