The Los Angeles Kings have terminated Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract and he is now a free agent. Here are three possible destinations for the Russian winger according to the latest NHL rumors.
Back in 2018, the NHL rumors surrounding the return of Ilya Kovalchuk piqued a lot of people’s curiosity. Was he going to be the same offensively dominant player he was in 2012? Is his age a negative factor? The LA Kings pushed aside the doubts and signed the Russian winger to a three-year deal averaging over $6 million a season. That contract made him the third highest-paid player on the team.
At first, it seemed like a great move. He had 14 points in the first 16 games, but once the Kings made a coaching change and tried to change the build-up of the team, he fell to the wayside. The Kings wanted to play a fast-paced game rather than a slow, defensive-oriented style that their team was built for. At 35 years old, Kovalchuk did not fit into the new mold. He ended up playing another 48 games in which he had just 18 points.
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This season, he played 17 games and has 9 points (3G 6A) before the Kings terminated his contract and made him an unrestricted free agent. He still wants to play in the NHL and said that he’s willing to take a league-minimum contract to join a contending team.
The team that acquires Kovalchuk will get a boost in offensive production, tons of experience, and power play help for a league-minimum price. They don’t even need to give up assets because he’s a free agent. For a playoff rental, that’s not a bad idea as there’s very little risk involved. Here are three possible destinations for Kovalchuk:
3. Nashville Predators
Losing Viktor Arvidsson was a big blow to the Nashville Predators and their offensive depth. Kovalchuk plays the same position and can be a good replacement until he returns from injury. The Predators have just four players with 10+ goals and adding Kovalchuk will help boost their team scoring as well as their league-worst power play that sits at just 12.9%.
In such an extremely competitive division like the Central, the Predators need to do whatever it takes to find an edge. Nashville has a really good center core which will benefit Kovalchuk as he would play with very talented players which will help increase his production. Playing with Ryan Johanssen or Matt Duchene is a massive upgrade over 10 minutes on the Kings’ fourth line.
2. Boston Bruins
The Bruins have already expressed their interest and they are a top contender for the Stanley Cup this season. They are known for their three-man offensive train in Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak. However, after those stars, the production is practically non-existent for the Bruins. Adding Kovalchuk will help boost their offensive depth which is a key component, especially in the playoffs.
The Bruins’ power play is third-best in the league right now and the addition of Kovalchuk would just make their production soar. This is a big season for Boston. They’re coming off a loss in the Stanley Cup Final and it’s obvious that the team is hungry to avenge themselves. They need to put themselves in the best possible position and the addition of Kovalchuk will only make their team better.
1. New York Islanders
The biggest problem for the New York Islanders is their lack of scoring. Their power play is 28th in the league at 14.5% and that will need to change if they consider themselves contenders. They have strong goaltending and their defense is solid so the last piece of the puzzle is goalscoring. The addition of Kovalchuk could be part of the solution. After all, Lou Lamoriello does not need to give up any assets to acquire the Russian winger.
Lamoriello already has a past relationship with Kovalchuk as he was the one who signed him to a 15-year 100 million dollar contract with the New Jersey Devils. When Kovalchuk decided to retire to play in the KHL, Lamoriello was understanding and the two of them ended on good terms.
Both men know each other well and have mutual respect and it would not be surprising if the two of them banded back together in the quest for a Stanley Cup.