Kovalchuk's new 15-year, $100M deal approved

CBSSports. The NHL has signed off on Ilya Kovalchuks latest contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Five weeks after rejecting the Russians landmark 17-year, $102 million contract with the Devils, the league approved a revised 15-year, $100 million deal on Friday after reaching an agreement with the NHL Players Association on an amendment covering long-term contracts.

Jay Grossman, Kovalchuks agent, confirmed the agreement in an e-mail to the Associated Press. It was first reported by TSN.

The NHL had rejected the Devils initial offer because it vi...
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Sharks sign former Blackhawks goalie Niemi

CBSSports.comThe San Jose Sharks signed the goalie who helped knock them out of the playoffs, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with Antti Niemi on Thursday.

Niemi joins fellow Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki in San Jose as the replacements for longtime starter Evgeni Nabokov. Niittymaki signed a two-year, $4 million deal on the first day of free agency in July.

"We liked our goaltending as of yesterday. We like it even more today," general manager Doug Wilson said. "When a player like this comes available and he wants to come to your team, especially on a contract that we feel fits our salary structure a...
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NHL extends deadline on Kovalchuk deal to Friday

CBSSpo The NHL has extended its deadline to Friday for approving Ilya Kovalchuks $100 million, 15-year contract with the New Jersey Devils.

The league and the NHL Players Association announced the new deadline Wednesday.

The NHL has already rejected a front-loaded, 17-year deal valued at $102 million because the structure of the deal would have circumvented the leagues salary cap. An independent arbitrator upheld that decision.

The Devils and Kovalchuk submitted the new contract to the league last Friday.

"We remain optimistic that this extension will result in an approval of the contract and that...
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Chelios finally retiring after 26 NHL seasons

CBSSpo Chris Chelios, the longest-tenured defenseman in NHL history, is finally hanging up his skates.

After 26 NHL seasons and three Stanley Cups, Chelios announced his retirement Tuesday at the age of 48.

"I guess Ive been dreading this day for a long time," he said at a news conference in Detroit.

Chelios, who won three Norris Trophies during a career that included stops in Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, will become an adviser with the Red Wings. His new job will include working with Detroits front office and coaching staffs while helping to develop and mentor young players.

In NHL history, only...
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Coyotes, Stempniak agree to new two-year deal

CBSSports.comThe Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed right wing Lee Stempniak to a two-year contract.

Details of the contract were not released.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Stempniak, 27, arrived in Arizona in a trade deadline deal with Toronto last season and gave the Coyotes a playoff-run boost with 14 goals and four assists in 18 regular-season games. He wasnt quite as effective in the playoffs, managing two assists in seven games.

Stempniak had a career-high 28 goals and 20 assists in 80 games with Toronto and Phoenix last season. He has 96 goals and 113 assists in a six-year career that includes a...
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