Arbitrator rules that Kovalchuk is a free agent

Hockey Betting Lines

08/09/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An arbitrator has ruled in favor of the NHL in regard to Ilya Kovalchuk's contract with the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils signed the free agent sniper to a 17-year, $102 million contract in mid-July and the league subsequently rejected the deal on grounds that it circumvented the salary cap. The NHL Players Association quickly filed a grievance, saying the contract conformed to the current collective bargaining agreement.

Monday's announcement by arbitrator Richard Bloch means the deal becomes void and Kovalchuk again becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Devils and the Russian superstar's agent, though, can try to tweak the parameters of the deal and re-submit it to the NHL.

As a result of the decision, and under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, the league can fine the Devils up to $5 million and eliminate future draft picks.

More to follow.

Onlinexasino Hockey Betting News

<< Tigers activate Guillen, option Rhymes
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers recalled infielder Carlos Guillen from his rehab assignment with Single-A West Michigan and activated him from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. The move comes just prior to the s

<< Cowboys TE Phillips out for year with torn ACL
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Cowboys tight end John Phillips will miss the entire 2010 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will have surgery when the team returns from Oxnard, CA, where it wi

<< Ilitches to make bid to purchase Pistons
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike and Marian Ilitch, who already own the Tigers and Red Wings, announced their intention to make a formal bid to buy the Detroit Pistons. The Detroit Free Press revealed on Monday that the Ilitch

<< Brewers' Braun earns NL weekly honors
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun was named NL Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending August 8. Braun led the majors with a .538 batting average (14-for-26) and a .586 on- base percent

<< Athletics' Cahill takes AL weekly honors
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland Athletics pitcher Trevor Cahill has been named the Player of the Week for the American League for the period ending August 8. It was Cahill's first-career weekly honor. The right-hander wo

Red Sox earn split with Yankees in the Bronx >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bill Hall had an RBI single and scored a run, and Jon Lester worked 6 1/3 effective innings, as the Boston Red Sox held on for a 2-1 win over the American League East-leading New York Yankees in the finale of a fo

Mariners place SS Wilson on disabled list >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners have placed shortstop Jack Wilson on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand. The veteran middle infielder suffered the injury in an accident

Astros promote P Melancon, demote Wright >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros recalled pitcher Mark Melancon from Triple-A Round Rock and sent left-hander Wesley Wright to the same club on Monday. The 25-year-old Melancon came to Houston in a July 31 t

A's call up Larish, Carter to majors >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics made several moves on Monday, most notably recalling infielders Chris Carter and Jeff Larish from Triple-A Sacramento. The team also optioned outfielder Matt Carson to Sacrame

Devil Rays put Jeff Niemann on DL >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays placed right-handed pitcher Jeff Niemann on the 15-day disabled list due to a right shoulder strain. Niemann, who is 10-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 22 games this season, was scratched from his s

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.