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Reactions around the league to the Ilya Kovalchuk signing

Lou Lamoriello

New Jersey Devils president, CEO, and general manager Lou Lamoriello listens to a question from the media Thursday, April 30, 2009, in Newark, N.J. The Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the Devils in the first round of the NHL hockey playoffs. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

AP

With Ilya Kovalchuk signed and the NHL and NHLPA agreeing to amend the collective bargaining agreement, this morning brings about statements from everyone surrounding the situation. Here’s a summation of what folks are saying this morning.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello makes a statement on the Devils website.

“We have been advised today that the NHL has approved the contract between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils. We are very pleased with this decision which will see Ilya Kovalchuk remain a valuable member of the Devils.

“The New Jersey Devils acted in good faith throughout this entire process and operated solely on the assumption that our negotiations and both contracts reached were fully compliant with the CBA, as written and applied. Arbitrator Bloch reached that same conclusion in his August 9 decision. We are pleased that this matter has finally been concluded to all parties’ satisfaction.”

Lamoriello’s statements are very clear in stating that the Devils stayed within the rules all along because the NHL has until September 17th to punish them for the circumventing the salary cap. While punishments could’ve gone so far as to reduce the Devils salary cap space, that won’t happen this time. Instead, stiff fines and loss of draft picks could be possible.TSN’s Darren Dreger
tweets that other owners are hoping to see the Devils punished for this.

The Sporting News’ Craig Custance caught up with a handful of interested parties to get their take on things. Marian Hossa’s agent Rich Winter is, unsurprisingly, very happy with how things played out.

“It’s a hat trick for the NHLPA. They preserved and protected $300 million worth of contracts. These contracts are no longer an issue,” Winter told Sporting News. “No. 2, it provides absolute certainty to the process and ... it takes out of Gary Bettman’s hands an incredible amount of unchecked power.”

Meanwhile, Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner viewed it as a positive that the league and the players association were able to work together on this deal.

“I think if both sides are willing to look at both sides, something can always be worked out,” said Devils forward Jamie Langenbrunner, who plays an active role in the NHLPA. “When you go from a strict point of view of your own and your own agenda and don’t look beyond that it makes it more difficult. As long as they work together as somewhat of a partnership, a lot of good things can happen.”

This entire situation being over with is a huge relief for everyone involved. Because of all the strange, entangling alliances this created getting things back to normal, at least for a couple of years, makes for a nice change of pace. Let’s hope it lasts.