Let's assume that Bettman does not intend this rejection of the Ilya Kovalchuk contract to be a light slap on the wrist that a minor and relatively insignificant tweak will fix. Let's further assume that it will cost the Devils a minimum of a $1 to $2 million dollar per year additional cap hit as well as significant money being paid to Kovalchuk post age 37. That would make this deal very … [Read more...]