yeah at least for the next two years Kovalchuk will earn $6 million each of the next two seasons, $11.5 million for the following five seasons, $10.5 million in the 2017-18 season, $8.5 million for the 2018-19 season
27, he'd be 44 at the end of that deal. The devils could also frontload that deal to circumvent the cap. You sir, are probably correct. I doubt they expect him to play til age 44.
Pretty much, the contract is front loaded bigtime the first ten years or so and then the Devils can buyout the rest of the contract - or he can retire - and the cap hit of just around $6m a year disappears. It's a win win for the Devils and Kovy. But expect the next CBA to address this.
I think he only played till 42. but yeah all the old guys who were grandfathered from playing without a helmet kept playing without a helmet till they retired. Thats hockey for ya