Lee Stempniak

The shootout.

It's an aspect of the game that is favoured by many, due to its exciting and unpredictable nature.

An aspect of the game that is also hated by a selective group, because they believe a tie should be settled with hockey, not a talent contest.

An aspect of the game that always ends with a winner, a loser, and a hero.

Since its introduction in the 2005-06 season, the shootout has garnered a wide array of emotions from NHL fans around the world, seeing everything from adoration to complete disdain.

It's a "love it or hate it" kind of thing.

Ilya Kovalchuk

The Kovalchuk circus continues. No news yet on whether or not the NHL has accepted the Devils' latest offer. However, the NHL is expected to accept the latest offer worth $100 million over 15 years. They wouldn't want to lose a superstar forward to the rival KHL.

Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Ilya Kovalchuk and his agent(s) have given the NHL a deadline to approve one of the many contracts the Devils and Kovalchuk have agreed upon. If the NHL does not approve any of them by today or tomorrow, it is very possible Kovalchuk ends up in the KHL.

Update:

News on Kaberle

Ilya Kovalchuk

Mark Everson of the New York Times is reporting that the NHL has rejected a proposed contract from the Devils to sign Kovalchuk. Apparently the framework of the contract is the issue.

Ilya Kovalchuk

According to ESPN, Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, Devils chairman/managing partner Jeff Vanderbeek, and Devil's GM Lou Lamoriello met at the NHL's office in NYC yestersday.

Various reports have been suggesting that the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk are closing in on a contract. Two reports even suggest it will happen today. As a hockey fan you should be thrilled when this happens for a few reasons.

1. You don't have to hear about Kovalchuk anymore.

2. The Devils will have to make some trades which are always exciting.

3. They might have a player your favorite team will be interested.

The Tomas Kaberle deadline is getting closer (it's three days away) and talks are heating up. I must have received over 50 text messages yesterday from sources regarding Kaberle. It really does sound like the offers the Maple Leafs are getting are improving steadily.

As all of you know the Devils are restructuring a new contract with Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk's main option is to re-sign in New Jersey so it should only be a matter of time before he is officially a part of the New Jersey Devils.

The NHL is investigating several long-term front loaded contracts (Marc Savard, Roberto Luongo, Marion Hossa, Chris Pronger). Personally, I don't think the NHL will do anything as this would cause a huge amount of commotion and all of the contracts are already at least one year in.

I have received several emails from fans in the past few days suggesting that Lee Stempniak has been offered a three-year deal worth a total of $9.5 million to play with the Islanders. I can confirm those rumors are 100 percent false, and he has not been offered that.

That is exactly the kind of deal Stempniak wants, and if he did indeed receive an offer like that, he would jump all over it. On a side note, he would be a good fit for the Islanders if he were to work out some sort of deal.

The rumors for today are actually quite interesting. There have been significant developments. Note that none of the rumors are my own. Here are all the rumors I could find:

Paul Kariya continues to be linked to the Anaheim Ducks. They are the franchise he started his career with, so it makes a lot of sense. 

The Phoenix Coyotes continue to try to bring back Lee Stempniak. He was on fire last year when he was acquired, but disappeared in the playoffs. If he is cheap enough, this could be a good signing.