NHL says Kovalchuk deal circumvented salary cap

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million deal with the New Jersey Devils has been rejected by the league because it circumvents the salary cap in the collective bargaining agreement.

Daly said Wednesday in a statement posted on the league website that the rejection of the contract sets up the possibility of several scenarios depending on how the players association, player and club each decides to proceed.

In the meantime, he said “the player is not entitled to play under the contract.”

Kovalchuk had beamed Tuesday during a news conference after receiving the longest deal in NHL history. But before the day was finished, he was in limbo again.