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Devils GM Lou Lamoriello goes back to the Ilya Kovalchuk contract drawing board

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

This probably won’t come as much of a surprise, but reports indicate that the New Jersey Devils are in the process of drawing up a new contract for Ilya Kovalchuk after an arbitrator sided with the NHL to void the 17-year, $102 million version.

Here’s more from general manager Lou Lamoriello via Rich Chere.

“While we do not currently have a contract with Ilya Kovalchuk, discussions have resumed and we are hopeful that a contract will be reached that meets with the principles in Arbitrator Bloch’s award and the NHL’s approval.”

If I were Lamoriello, I’d use the deals signed by Marian Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg as a road map in drawing up an “acceptable” deal. We’ll wait and see if a new deal means a bigger cap hit for the already cap-challenged Devils, less money for Kovalchuk or ... another disputed contract?

I wish this ordeal was over, but clearly, the Fat Contract Lady is on “mute” right now.