Ilya Kovalchuk has made his return to the NHL after signing with the Los Angeles Kings this summer.
This off-season the Los Angeles Kings made a huge splash by signing Ilya Kovalchuk. The first overall draft pick in 2001 by the Atlanta Thrashers had spent the last five seasons with the SKA Saint Petersburg of the Russian KHL after famously walking away from the NHL in 2013. Kovy has finally returned.
It has been a long time coming for the Russian superstar, but he’s finally back where he belongs in the NHL.
Early NHL Years
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The expansion Atlanta Thrashers drafted Kovalchuk first overall in the 2001 NHL Draft. For the young Russian his rookie season was but a precursor of things to come as he would go on to score 29 goals and contribute 51 assists.
While the Thrashers weren’t known for their winning ways, the franchise did appear in the playoffs in the 2006-07 season after winning the Southeast Division with 97 points and record of 43-28-11. Kovalchuk would score 42 goals and 34 assists in the regular season while contributing one goal and one assist in the Thrashers were swept in the playoffs by the New York Rangers.
In his nine seasons with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk would go on to set franchise records in goals (328), assists (287), and points (615) along with two 52 Goal seasons in 2005-06 and 2007-08. The Thrashers would ultimately trade their superstar in February 2010 to New Jersey for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, and a first-round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Years in New Jersey
During the 2010 off-season, Kovalchuk signed a 15-year $100 million contract with the New Jersey Devils after the NHL famously shot down a previous agreement of 17-years and $102 million. Between 2010 and 2012 Kovalchuk would score 68 goals and 143 points while adding 8 goals in the 2011-12 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
During the lockout-shortened season, Kovalchuk would split time between SKA Saint Petersburg and New Jersey scoring 29 goals and 44 assists. Then on July 11, 2013, he abruptly retired from the NHL to go play in Russia.
Many reasons have been speculated for his departure, although Kovalchuk has stated he wanted to be closer to his family. He was gone nonetheless, leaving behind $77 million his remaining 12-year contract with the Devils.
Return to Russia
in Russia Kovalchuk would find immense success where he led SKA Saint Petersburg to two-Gagarin Cups (2015, 2017) along with three-KHL All-Star Game Appearances (2013, 2014, and 2015). With SKA Saint Petersburg he scores 120 goals and 165 assists.
He’d also found success on the international level leading the OAR to an Olympic Gold Medal during the 2018 Winter Olympics with five goals and two assists. Even with all his success abroad he still wanted that elusive Stanley Cup.
The Triumphant Return
After five off-seasons of speculation, the Los Angeles Kings signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a 3-year $18 million contract. Questions immediately arose about how the 35-year-old would fare in a much faster NHL. While Kovalchuk has always been known for his agility and puck handling skills, the Kings see him as a much bigger asset on their power play where he has scored a career 138 goals with 60 of those being game winners.
In six games so far Kovalchuk has not disappointed scoring two goals with two assists. His puck handling skills seem to be as good as ever. While the Kings have gotten off to a slow start (2-3-1) they will no doubt remain in contention as long as he continues to display the abilities he is known for.