New Jersey gets some justice

[CKcardtrader]

Just heard on TSN that instead of losing a first round pick for the supposed cap manipulation of Kovalchuk, they will get number 30 no matter where they placed. I think this is some justice as they never directly violated any terms of the old CBA and several other teams offered similar contracts with no punishment. It is interesting as many wondered why they didn't give up pick earlier when they would have had low pick but they knew they were appealing this. I also read that they were going to refuse too sign the new CBA till this got overturned so I wonder what backroom deal was made with Bettman not to hold up the owners side on signing. Funny I am not a fan of New Jersey at all, just thought this ruling was ridiculous.

 

[canucksfreak19]

Whether it is righteous or not, they got lucky with this relaxing of the penalty.

 

[WesM44]

You're kidding right? Lamoriello was one of the main parties involved in bringing about the new cap system. Regardless of whether Kovalchuk stays through the entirety of his contract, the intent from Lamoriello with the signing was clearly to bring in a superstar player on a cap-circumventing deal. The application for relaxing of the "judgment" by NJ to the League was a thinly veiled reminder from Uncle Louie to Bettman of who really "wears the pants in the relationship".

 

[CKcardtrader]

Why did chicago and van not get nailed for hossa and luongo. Plus the league has final say, all they have to do is decline it, no punishment needed. It was Burke and another GM kicking fits. I read on another site that it has to do with nj new owners too.

 

[WesM44]

Why did chicago and van not get nailed for hossa and luongo. Plus the league has final say, all they have to do is decline it, no punishment needed. It was Burke and another GM kicking fits. I read on another site that it has to do with nj new owners too.

They were the first offenders, along with Philly (Pronger) that prompted the League to issue the warning that any more circumvention would result in punishment. This is why Bettman has no place among the leadership of a top four North American sports league. He's stubborn enough to blacklist Balsillie from buying no less than three teams and keep money-hemorrhaging franchises like the Coyotes and Panthers in their respective markets despite a complete dearth of fanbase and/or corporate sponsors, yet when it comes to this where it appears he put his foot down on it, he waffles and bends over for Uncle Lou again. He would do the same for Murray Edwards, Ed Snider, Jeremy Jacobs, or any of the other "old boys" that he counts as his supporters in the ownership group.

 

[Orca Pod]

Why did chicago and van not get nailed for hossa and luongo. Plus the league has final say, all they have to do is decline it, no punishment needed. It was Burke and another GM kicking fits. I read on another site that it has to do with nj new owners too.

The league said they put those contacts 'on watch.' There were a couple others, can't remember who right now.

Basically, the NHL couldn't handle the fact that GMs were smarter than they were, and easily found ways around the CBA but also be within the rules of the CBA. Bettman must have popped an artery or two when he realized the GMs were far 'superior' in their thought process to him/league.

So, they put in the new rules for Hossa, Lunogo, etc. into the new CBA.

It's going to be interesting when Hossa, Luongo, etc. retire. It's years down the road, but you have to think there's going to be lawsuits over the 'retroactive' nature of the new CBA.

 

[CKcardtrader]

I think this falls back on the owners/gm for not negotiating before doing this CBA. They should have remembered that Bettman works for them.