Bruins: Savard deal investigated like Kovalchuk's

Aug 10, 2010 - 9:12 PM BOSTON(AP) -- The Boston Bruins say they're cooperating with the NHL in its investigation of Marc Savard's contract.

The league is looking into Savard's contract after voiding one with a similar structure that went to Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils had agreed to pay Kovalchuk $102 million over 17 years, with much of the money coming upfront. An arbitrator agreed that was meant to circumvent the salary cap.

Kovalchuk is back on the free agent market. It's not clear what would happen if the league determines there's a problem with the extension Savard signed last year. It pays him $28 million over seven years, with about $1 million of it in the last two years.

The league registered Savard's contract in December but told the Bruins it would investigate. Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli says he met with league lawyers last week.