N.J Devils Get Their 2014 Draft Pick Back!!

[Downinfloflo]

The NHL softened it's punishment against the Devils, They will get the 30th pick in the 2014 draft.


NEW YORK -- The New Jersey Devils won't have to forfeit a first-round pick after all for attempting to circumvent the salary cap by signingIlya Kovalchuk (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/?name=ilya+kovalchuk) to a 17-year deal in 2010, the NHL announced Thursday.


The league originally docked the club a first-round pick in either 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014 along with a third-rounder in 2011 and US$3 million for trying to give the Russian star a contract that lasted until his mid-40s just to even out the cap hit.
Instead, the Devils will be given the 30th pick in the draft and thus not eligible for the <nobr style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1em;">lottery (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=445439#)</nobr> if they don't make the playoffs. The pick cannot be traded.
New Jersey's fine was also reduced, the league announced. TSN, which first reported the story, said the team was getting back US$1.5 million.
Kovalchuk leaving for the KHL last summer appeared to be the reason for the change.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=445439

[rbochan]

Well, this is very odd. Regardless of whether the player remains in the NHL - Hell, he could have died in a car wreck, and no longer been playing, or have been traded to another team - The sanction was levied against the organization for the act of circumvention committed during the negotiation of Kovalchuk's original contract, not its' eventual outcome; favorable or ill-fated.

Screwy decision. But, I suppose it suits certain league-interests; keeping (what had been for a long time) a financially-faltering franchise in a large TV market, marginally competitive.

Even if you cheat and lose - When caught, you should still be punished for cheating.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

The Devils changed owners since that contract was dealt. This is a naked attempt to reward the new owners for taking on a team in debt.

[JATMtheJATM]

son of a *****....

i wanted the sabres to have the 30th pick.

[SkateZilla]

the only reason they did it is because Kovo Bailed back to the KHL.