Just over a year ago, reports emerged that the NHL was investigating Marian Hossa's 12-year, $62.8 million contract with the Blackhawks despite approving it.

Now, it looks as if the NHL may not be finished looking at the deal.

A footnote in arbitrator Richard Bloch's ruling on Ilya Kovalchuk's grievance -- which upheld the NHL's decision to reject Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils for circumventing the collective bargaining agreement -- referred to Hossa's contract with the Hawks.

The contracts of Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger and Boston Bruins center Marc Savard also were mentioned.

All four players have front-loaded deals and all four players will be in their 40's when their contracts expire, such as the Kovalchuk deal. But all four contracts were previously approved by the NHL. Kovalchuk, on the other hand, is now an unrestricted free agent.

"First, while the contracts have, in fact, been registered, their structure has not escaped League notice: those [Standard Player's Contracts] are being investigated currently with at least the possibility of a subsequent withdrawal of the registration," Bloch wrote about the four contracts.

The Hawks declined to comment and an NHL spokesman said in an email "the league is not commenting any further on this issue at this point." The Canucks and Bruins both confirmed the NHL is investigating the contracts of Luongo and Savard. (Vancouver GM Mike Gillis confirmed it with the Vancouver Sun, while Boston issued a statement.)

Here are some statistics comparing Marty Turco and Antti Niemi. The Hawks signed Turco to a one-year deal Monday, while deciding to walk away from Niemi and his arbitration award of $2.75 million.

The Blackhawks' decision is in. The Hawks will completely walk away from goalie Antti Niemi and his arbitration award of $2.75 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.

To replace him, the Hawks have signed veteran goalie Marty Turco to a one-year deal.