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The Red Wings had an executive of their organization fined this weekend for some of his comments.
"The Detroit Red Wings’ organization and the league agree that the comments made by Mr. Devellano are neither appropriate, nor authorized, nor permissible under the league's by-laws," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. "Such comments are neither constructive nor helpful to the negotiations."
In an interview that appeared on the Island Sports News website, Devellano referred to NHL players and executives such as himself as "the cattle" and owners as "the ranch."
Long term contracts might prove to be costly for teams.
Let’s start with the suggestion the New Jersey Devils, not exactly an NHL squad flush with cash these days, might yet be penalized more for the controversial Ilya Kovalchuk contract.
Huh? Weren’t they already fined $3 million and stripped of a first-round pick and a third-rounder for trying to circumvent the NHL’s salary cap system with a 17-year, $102 million (all figures U.S.) contract offer to Kovalchuk back in 2010?
And didn’t the NHL eventually approve an altered $100 million deal over 15 years?
Correct on both counts.
Fifty , yes you read that right, players have already signed to play overseas.
Friday morning was the first sign that things were different. Friday morning, it finally felt real.
On a day when training camps around the NHL were supposed to open with medical exams and fitness testing, hockey fans instead woke up to highlights of Alex Ovechkin and other locked-out players making their regular-season debuts in the KHL and other European leagues.
It was yet another reminder that the landscape is changing, that hockey might have to be consumed differently this season. If you want your fix, it can be had. You just might need a translator to understand.