The Devils cut 19 players from their training camp roster today. To find out who was cut, read after the jump!

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The Devils are participating in a morning skate before heading to Philadelphia to open the preseason against the Flyers tonight at the Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m.). The game is being shown on the NHL network but unfortunately for those of us living in NJ, the game is being blacked out.

With a couple of exceptions, today's group is the same one that wore Red in Monday's scrimmage. Alexander Vasyunov has replaced Vladimir Zharkov on the Adam Mair line, and Nick Palmieri is in for Rod Pelley on the Brad Mills line. Goaltenders are Johan Hedberg and Mike McKenna.

Patrik Elias - Jason Arnott - Jamie Langenbrunner
Dainius Zubrus - Jacob Josefson - David Clarkson
Alexander Vasyunov - Adam Mair - Marcus Nilson
PL Letourneau-Leblond - Brad Mills - Nick Palmieri

Bryce Salvador - Andy Greene
Alexander Urbom - Henrik Tallinder
Mark Fraser - Matt Corrente

Here in time to get you through the first real day of Devils’ training camp, The Devils’ Sports Page, bringing you Devils news from around the web into one location. Check it out!

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As we continue toward the opening of training camp (veterans report tomorrow!) and the eventual 2010-2011 season, Running With The Devils will once again begin The Devils' Sports Page. This will be your one-stop shop for all Devils-related links around the web. So, without further adieu, here is today’s Devils' Sports Page

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The Devils won’t be filing a grievance for the latest decision against the organization. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the decision between the league and the Devils over Ilya Kovalchuk’s rejected 17-year, $102 million deal is closed and will not be appealed.

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The NHL made its ruling on the first rejected Ilya Kovalchuk decision today, fining the New Jersey Devils $3 million dollars and forcing them to give up two draft picks for attempting to circumvent the salary cap.

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Are you ready for some meaningful hockey news?  The John Maclean era will officially get underway as the rookies report to camp this morning and the veterns will join them on Friday. Of the rookies that are going to be in camp, who do you home to see get invites to remain with the team once camp comes to an end? Contiue reading to view the full training camp roster (rookies and veterns.)

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With the NHLPA officially filing a grievance today against the NHL on behalf of Ilya Kovalchuk, the league and players’ union will now battle out whether the 17-year, $102 million dollar contract is legitimate. If the NHLPA wins, the Devils get their player. But if the arbitrator rules in favor of the NHL, the Devils could face harsh penalties.

After reading several reports about what exactly comes next, I wanted to outline the following steps. Big credit to Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record for the information.

With the NHLPA filing their grievance, both sides will look to find a “systems” arbitrator. The neutral arbitrator will conduct a full hearing with witnesses, oral arguments and written briefs presented to the arbitrator. Both sides, however, can choose not to have the formal hearing.

The arbitrator can call anyone involved in the process as a witness. Kovalchuk, his agent Jay Grossman, Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek and general manager Lou Lamoriello can all be called on for the case. The Los Angeles Kings, who Grossman and Kovalchuk negotiated with, can also be called in. The site of the hearing would be up to the NHLPA and NHL to decide. After the hearing, the arbitrator will have 48 hours to issue a ruling.

If the Arbitrator Rules In Favor of the Contract…

If the arbitrator rules that the NHL was wrong to reject the offer, the NHL will have to immediately approve and register the contract. It’s that simple.

If the Arbitrator Rules In Favor of the NHL…

If the arbitrator upholds the NHL’s rejection of the contract, then the deal would be dead and Kovalchuk would become an unrestricted free agent. Kovalchuk could then re-negotiate a deal with the Devils or sign with another team. But it’s not that simple.

The arbitrator also decides whether or not the Devils attempted to circumvent the cap. If the arbitrator believes the team attempted circumvention, commissioner Gary Bettman can then impose hefty fines against the club.

According to Article 26.13 of the collective bargaining agreement:

if the system arbitrator finds that a circumvention has been committed by the club, the commissioner has the power to impose of fine of up to $5 million in cases of circumvention of the salary cap. It also says “if such a fine is assessed against a club, that club’s payroll room shall also be reduced by such amount for the following league year.”

The Devils, who would have $3.5 million this season in cap space, would then have to shed salary to accommodate the fine. Bettman can also take draft picks of any position and any year away from the team.

Kovalchuk could also face penalties. Bettman can fine him between $250,000 and $1 million for circumvention, and the arbitrator can recommend suspension of Kovalchuk if it’s found that he tried to circumvent the cap.

I don’t think the NHL will take a hard-line stance, but the Devils, who are bystanders in the process, can potentially lose out on more than Kovalchuk if the arbitrator rules in favor of the NHL.

Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images

According to multiple reports, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello knew the contract of Ilya Kovalchuk would be rejected before yesterday’s press conference.

The Devils were apparently notified Monday night, but felt comfortable going ahead with the press conference.

Lamoriello did not respond to the report, but believed the NHL was wrong for rejecting the contract.

“We are extremely disappointed that the NHL has decided to reject the contract of Ilya Kovalchuk,” Lamoriello said in a statement released by the team.  ”The contract complies with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. We will have no further comment until the process outlined in the CBA is complete.”

The news coming from this situation continues to pour out. It’s a little odd to think that Lamoriello would go ahead with a press conference knowing the contract would be rejected the very next day. Apparently, according to these reports, that seems to be the case.

Where do the Devils go from here? Supposedly, the NHLPA is interviewing all parties involved in putting the contract together in order to determine whether to bring the case to arbitration. If the NHLPA decides to bring the case to arbitration, both the players association and the NHL would have to wait for an independent arbitrator to be hired and approved by both sides. That can possibly draw out the process.

Any way you slice it, I would bet the deal would be restructured to more closely match those of Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg and Chris Pronger. That would probably mean a larger cap hit per season and possibly a decrease in years. Either way, it seemed like Kovalchuk only wants to be a Devil, and the Devils seem more than willing to make any potential deal work.

The NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on the grounds that it circumvents the NHL's salary cap. Stayed tuned because this saga is going to get very interesting now. AJ and I will certainly keep you updated right here...

Update 10:28PM - It is believed the NHL rejected  the deal because the NHL doesn't believe either the player or the Devils expected he would be playing near end of deal. If the NHLPA grieves the leagues decision, the contract remains dead until an arbitrator decides otherwise

Under CBA, Player's Association has 5 days to file grievance, then arbitrator will decide

Update 10:07AM - NHL's official statement.  National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly today issued the following statement regarding the free agent contract forward Ilya Kovalchuk signed with the New Jersey Devils: "The contract has been rejected by the League as a circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Under the CBA, the contract rejection triggers a number of possible next steps that may be elected by any or each of the NHLPA, the Player and/or the Club. In the interim, the player is not entitled to play under the contract, nor is he entitled to any of the rights and benefits that are provided for thereunder. The League will have no further comment on this matter pending further developments."

Basically the Devils have a few options. The could restructure the entire deal and refile with the league to see it is accepted. If the Devils feel they have a good case moving forward with the current deal, they can file a grievance against the league's decision, something they have 5 days to do. Should it go to an arbiter, I believe they have a good case because there are enough examples of guys playing into their 40's. If this does go to an arbiter and  he rules in favor of NJ, then the contract stands and the league MUST accept it but it the arbiter rules in favor of the league, the contract is voided and Kovalchuk becomes a UFA once again. If that happens, I guess we'll find out how much he really does want to play in NJ.

Like I said last night, this whole situation has gotten very interesting. I am trying to look at it from a hockey fan's point of view and not a Devils fan because looking at it as a Devils fan, I might get accused of being a graduate of the Michael Kay Homer School.