Now that Jordan Hendry and Nick Boynton are signed, the Blackhawks will be able to dress six defenseman on Opening Night that played in the Stanley Cup Finals. So even with all the movement on the roster this summer, the team still has it’s strong blue line largely intact (with, of course, the exception of Brent Sopel).

 

But with Hendry and Boynton in the fold, there could be a logjam on the blue line that could create more questions in training camp and into the beginning of the season.

 

 

It has been pointed out, at length, on Tuesday that the NHL has continued to investigate a number of lengthy contracts written in the past couple seasons to veteran stars. This issue was brought to a head in the footnotes of the arbitrator’s ruling that confirmed the league’s rejection of Ilya Kovalchuk’s 17-year contract with the New Jersey Devils.

On the 19th page (of 20), the following footnote is included in the ruling:

 

The Blackhawks have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with veteran defenseman Nick Boynton worth $500k.

 

Boynton, 31, appeared in three games in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Blackhawks last year, recording a plus-two rating and two penalty minutes while averaging 8:23 on ice per game.

 

In the 2009-10 regular season, Boynton scored one goal and added six assists in 42 games with the Anaheim Ducks before being acquired by the Blackhawks late in the year. He only saw action in seven regular season games for the Hawks, adding just one assist. He averaged 16:38 on ice last year.

 

Monday afternoon the NHL finally received a formal decision regarding the 17-year, $105M contract offer from the New Jersey Devils to Ilya Kovalchuk.

 

The arbitrator has ruled in favor of the NHL, voiding the contract. Kovalchuk is now an unrestricted free agent (again).

 

This ruling could have historic impact not only on the NHL, but across professional sports; the NHL voided the contract because it circumvented the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This ruling limits the abuse of loopholes. While the ruling voids Kovalchuk’s contract, it does not address deals given in previous years to players like Philadelphia’s Chris Pronger and Chicago’s Marian Hossa.