Yesterday, Lou Lamoriello dropped a stunning bomb that completely changed the face of the New Jersey Devils.
Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 17 year contract worth $102 million. 17 years? That part is still going through my head.
17 years is such a long time, it's just hard to even clinch how far ahead that is.
But this is turning point for this franchise, and in my opinion about time. This is the first time since the salary cap era started after the lockout that the Devils did something like this, and Lou again showed how much of a genius he truly is. He took the hottest free agent in the league and made him a $6 million cap hit. That means that they can very easily sign RFA Zach Parise sometime before July 2011. This means that Lou is looking ahead to the future. This means that for the first time, that little team in New Jersey are actually on the center stage with more than just an all-star living legend goalie.
For the first time, the Devils have multiple offensive threats and even after Elias's contract expires in 2012, they will have two stars who can guide and lead this team into the future in this wide open league.
In a sport that is more prone to parody then any other than football, is it time for the Cup to come home to New Jersey for the first time in 8 years? I hope so! I want a reason to celebrate!!!!
