It is believed that the Players Association and Ilya Kovalchuk are preparing the "legal case" that would most likely involve a grievance filing by Tuesday, according to a report in the New York Post. Failing a settlement, Kovalchuk's $102 million, 17-year contract with the Devils and its rejection by the league would be submitted to an arbitrator. The league contends the contract circumvents the CBA because it extends until Kovalchuk is 44.