By Justin Worsley
Apparently, a $100 million isn't enough money in the opinion of the NHL to allow the New Jersey Devils to sign winger Ilya Kovalchuk.
New Jersey has been fined $3 million by the league and will have to forfeit two high draft picks in the next four years due to the organizations attempt to circumvent the salary cap. In July, the team penned Kovalchuk to a 17-year, $102 million deal.
The signing was initially rejected by the league, stating that the contract was front-loaded and paid out too little at the tail end of the deal. The Devils took the case to an arbitrator, who sided with the NHL. The Devils were finally able to sign Kovalchuk, 27, to a 15-year, $100 million deal last month.
The monetary fine will not go against New Jersey's salary cap. New Jersey also has the option as to which year they will forfeit a pick, however, they must inform the league by the day after the Stanley Cup of their decision.
Kovalchuk was the prized possession of this year's free agent market. Since his rookie season in 2002, Kovalchuk has scored 621 points including 338 goals, the most by any NHL player in that span. The Devils acquired Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Trashers in a trade last season.
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