The Devils won't complain because the team itself has no grounds to complain under the current CBA.

Exactly. It's the NHL's OWN fault they made no guidelines, and thought they'd give themselves a trump clause(and that's what that is). A VERY subjective, super generalized clause that they think will give them God power. They usually hold very little water legally. If anyone is guilty of something, the NHL is guilty of trying to meddle in such manners. No one should have the ability to selectively enforce some vague rule. I really hope the Devils cause a shit storm. Work out the details, or don't create the rule. This clause ASSURED that this would happen someday. When the other teams did it, a few owners must have spoke up, but I'm guessing this time they all did. That's why this instance was enforced. Tell me that isn't gay. I wouldn't even join a fantasy league that was run like that, ffs.

Exactly. It's the NHL's OWN fault they made no guidelines, and thought they'd give themselves a trump clause(and that's what that is). A VERY subjective, super generalized clause that they think will give them God power. They usually hold very little water legally. If anyone is guilty of something, the NHL is guilty of trying to meddle in such manners. No one should have the ability to selectively enforce some vague rule. I really hope the Devils cause a shit storm. Work out the details, or don't create the rule. This clause ASSURED that this would happen someday. When the other teams did it, a few owners must have spoke up, but I'm guessing this time they all did. That's why this instance was enforced. Tell me that isn't gay. I wouldn't even join a fantasy league that was run like that, ffs.

im, not sure what rule your talking about from what i read elsewhere the reason the contract was denied was because towards the end of the contract the pay drop was more then half of the previous year which is against the CBA. if that is all it is then its an easy enough fix (and i believe the NHL said that the problem was an easy fix). as long as the Hawks, Wings and Islanders didnt have a similar drop off with their long contracts then, like the devils, theres nothing to bitch about.

I have not seen that in the CBA, and I honestly don't think there is anything there about that.

Hossa goes $7.9M -> $4M -> $1M .
Zetterberg goes $7M -> $3.35M -> $1M .

Plenty of deals that were approved would break that 50% rule.

The Devils could fix the deal by shifting money out of the high end and filling in those last 6 years up to at least $1M. Total cost of the deal wouldn't change, and the cap number wouldn't change. Wouldn't be hard to do, they'd just have to drop two of those $11.5M years down a little bit. Problem is that Kovie might not take it,but a deal structured like that would be hard to object to based on the prior approval of Hossa's deal.

It's been reported he wants protection in the event of another lockout, that's why he's demanded all the super high years in there.

I'd think he has to take it. He potentially looses out on $2.5M if he does retire before the cheap years, but for over $100M I think he can deal.

I have not seen that in the CBA, and I honestly don't think there is anything there about that.

Hossa goes $7.9M -> $4M -> $1M .
Zetterberg goes $7M -> $3.35M -> $1M .

Plenty of deals that were approved would break that 50% rule.

The Devils could fix the deal by shifting money out of the high end and filling in those last 6 years up to at least $1M. Total cost of the deal wouldn't change, and the cap number wouldn't change. Wouldn't be hard to do, they'd just have to drop two of those $11.5M years down a little bit. Problem is that Kovie might not take it,but a deal structured like that would be hard to object to based on the prior approval of Hossa's deal.

Now what?

If I had decided to jerk off instead, I probably wouldn't be paying child support...

First the NHL and NHLPA argue about the arbitrator. :p

If the arbitrator rules in favor of the NHL, the contract is voided.

If the arbitrator rules in favor of the NHLPA, the contact is upheld, and we start preparing for another lockout in 2 years.