Winners and Losers in Kovalchuk Saga

Now that one of the most bizarre off-seasons is drawing to a close with training camps set to open in a couple of weeks, I think its time we take a look at the winners and losers in this waste of a time saga.

Winners:

The New Jersey Devils

-The Devils are usually not known as an aggressive team in the summer when it comes to pursuing big name talent, but Lou Lamoriello decided to change the dynamic of the team and lock up a player of Kovy's caliber. The Devils themselves have been known a s a team that is build through youth and development. He also re-acquired Jason Arnott, signed Anton Volchenkov and Henrik Tallinder and added Johan Hedberg as a backup to Marty Brodeur.

Lou Lamoriello

-His patience throughout the process definitely showed why he is still one of the best General Managers not just in Hockey, but in all of sports.

The NHL

-They get to keep one of the most exciting players in hockey.

Devils Owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek

-Ilya Kovalchuk has ushered in a new era for the owner, who knows he has to do a better job in marketing the Devils and hockey in the state of New Jersey.

Devils Fans

-They now get to buy tickets and his jersey. Plus attendance will increase this year as coach John MacLean said he will think more offensively this year and try to play more of an up tempo style.

Losers:

Gary Bettman and Bill Daly

-The league commissioner is already very unpopular with fans for the canceled 2004-2005 season. And this saga definitely adds to his reputation and puts a red flag on him. Bill Daly has also kind of ruined his reputation in all of this. Bettman is booed by fans when he steps up to the podium at the Entry Draft in June, so imagine what will happen this year especially when he visits the Prudential Center.

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

-Ever since August 9th, the day arbitrator Richard Bloch made his ruling, the KHL had every opportunity and ammunition to try to get Kovy to sign in Russia. They even offered him the similar 17 year deal the NHL rejected and let him choose his team, but he stayed committed to the NHL and the New Jersey Devils. Also a loser in the KHL is the club SKA St. Petersburg, the club that Kovalchuk would have probably chosen to play for had he decided to sign in the KHL.

LA Kings

-They are not really a loser, but they flew Ilya and his family to LA, and yet still failed to sign him.

Front-Loaded Contracts

-Teams will now have to be very cautious in the number of years they sign a player to, so looks like you will not see any long-term deals for more than 7 or 8 years from now. Otherwise more contracts will come under Investigation.

Conclusion: All I have to say is Thank God this saga is finally over and Devils Fans can enjoy an exciting brand of hockey at "The Rock." Now it will be very interesting to see what the Devils do to clear the salary cap space to accommodate Ilya Kovalchuk. On a side note, the NHL will stop its investigation into the Hossa, Savard, Luongo and Pronger contracts with their teams.