Devils GM weighs in on Kovalchuk deadline

Hockey Betting Lines

09/01/2010 - Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello issued a statement on Wednesday, addressing the National Hockey League's decision to extend the deadline on accepting a new contract for free- agent forward Ilya Kovalchuk to this coming Friday.

The Devils submitted a new contract concerning Kovalchuk to the league last Friday.

"We have today been advised that the NHL and NHLPA have agreed to extend until Friday the decision on whether to approve or reject the latest contract between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils.

"We remain confident that the terms of this contract comply, in every respect, with the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and meet both the NHL's concerns and the principles of arbitrator Bloch's decision. We remain optimistic that this extension will result in an approval of the contract and that Ilya Kovalchuk will remain a valuable member of the Devils for the balance of his career."

The Bergen Record reported last Friday that NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the league was reviewing the contract and had five days, beginning Friday, to either approve or reject the deal. The paper reported the contract is believed to be worth $100 million over 15 years, with an annual salary cap hit of $6.66 million.

The league rejected Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract in July, on grounds that it circumvented the salary cap. The reported deal was front- loaded so Kovalchuk could have earned as much money as possible while providing the lowest possible cap hit for the team.

After the NHL Players Association filed a grievance, an arbitrator ruled on August 9 in favor of the NHL, voiding the deal and making Kovalchuk an unrestricted free agent again.

Wsportszone Hockey Betting News


<< Royals catcher Kendall to have shoulder surgery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Jason Kendall, who had been the Kansas City Royals starting catcher in 118 of their first 132 games, will undergo shoulder surgery Friday in Los Angeles for a torn right rotator cuff.Royals manager Ned Yost said the recovery t

<< Celtics bring back Delonte West
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics have signed free agent guard Delonte West. Terms of the deal were not released, but the Boston Herald reports it is a non-guaranteed contract for the upcoming season. West was an origi

<< Suddenly surging Astros sweep catatonic Cards
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run fifth inning, as the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 5-2 win at Minute Maid Park. Michael Bourn added a

<< Big South announces four-year extension with Stony Brook
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Big South Conference announced on Wednesday a four-year extension of a football agreement with associate football member Stony Brook. "Stony Brook has been an outstanding football mem

<< Stony Brook extends Big South contract
Charlotte, N.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ending speculation that Stony Brook's football program might move to another conference, the Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers unanimously approved a four-year associate football members

Report: Sharks to sign former 'Hawk Niemi >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks are set to sign former Chicago Blackhawks cast-off goaltender Antti Niemi to a one-year, $2 million contract, according to multiple reports in both cities. The cash-strapped Blackha

Venus reaches third round at U.S. Open >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time champion Venus Williams was among Wednesday's second-round winners at the U.S. Open. The third-seeded former world No. 1 Williams got past Rebecca Marino 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 at Ashe Stadium. The po

Padres bring up three from minors >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres made a bevy of roster moves on Wednesday. The club selected the contracts of left-hander Cory Luebke and catcher Chris Stewart and recalled right-hander Ryan Webb from Triple-A Portl

Fukudome helps Cubs down Pirates >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kosuke Fukudome finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI as the Chicago Cubs set aside Pittsburgh, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game set from Wrigley Field. Tyler Colvin, Micah Hoff

Rockies reinstate P Buchholz from DL >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies have reinstated reliever Taylor Buchholz from the 15-day disabled list. The right-hander was placed on the DL on August 17, retroactive to August 14, with lower back stiffness.

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson
rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.

Football Betting

NFL Football Betting Online

The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.

Thursday, August 21

NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37

NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road

In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.

Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):

* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games

Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.

Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.

Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.

That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.

Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.

CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .