Kovalchuk agrees to US$102-million, 17-year deal with New Jersey Devils

Kovalchuk's agent and the team announced on Monday that the high-scoring left wing has agreed to stay with New Jersey, ending weeks of speculation where the league's leading goal scorer since 2001 would be skating next season.

“This was a long arduous process that has taken frankly a little longer than I thought,” agent Jay Grossman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “But you know what, nothing is worth anything unless you work for it. I can tell you he is very happy to be with the New Jersey Devils.”

The deal is somewhat salary-cap friendly for the Devils, who will absorb an annual hit of US$6 million — the average amount per season. However, Kovalchuk will remain on the books through the 2026-27 season.

Kovalchuk will earn US$6 million each of the next two seasons, US$11.5 million for the following five seasons, US$10.5 million in the 2017-18 season, US$8.5 million for the 2018-19 season, US$6.5 million in 2019-20, US$3.5 million in 2020-21, US$750,000 the following season, and US$550,000 for the final five years of the unprecedented deal.

The Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Devils and SKA St. Petersburg of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League talked with Kovalchuk since free agency started on July 1.

The final decision came down to the Kings and Devils. New Jersey will officially reintroduce Kovalchuk to New Jersey at a news conference on Tuesday.

Grossman refused to say that Kovalchuk decided to stay because he felt the Devils had a better chance to win the Stanley Cup.

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