• Arbiter: NHL was right in voiding Kovalchuk deal: Ilya Kovalchuk is back on the free-agent market. An arbiter has decided that the NHL acted correctly in voiding Kovalchuk’s landmark $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. The league had rejected the 17-year contract, saying the longest deal in league history violated its salary cap. The NHL Players Association filed a grievance against the league. A hearing was held last week and arbiter Richard Bloch sided with the league when he issued his ruling on Monday.