After another three-season stint in the NHL, it looks like Ilya Kovalchuk is headed back home. According to Aivis Kalniņs, who covers the KHL, the 37-year-old has a deal in place with a KHL team.
"llya Kovalchuk's run in the NHL appears to have ended. Per his agent - he's set to sign with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, that is coached by Bob Hartley," said Kalnins.
Not only would his most current run in the NHL be over, but it's a safe bet that this would be the end of Kovalchuk's NHL career, given his age.
Kovalchuk returned to North America after five seasons in the KHL in 2018-19 following the signing of a three-year contract with the L.A. Kings. After putting up some disappointing numbers, and being a healthy scratch, he was bought out the final season remaining on his contract near the end of 2019. He would then sign a deal with the Montreal Canadiens for the remainder of the season, and enjoyed a bit of a resurgence. At the trade deadline, when the Habs were facing the prospect of missing the playoffs, the team shipped him to Washington, where Kovalchuk would end his most current NHL run.
Kovalchuk, who has a total of 876 points in the NHL, was hoping to find a team in North America for the upcoming season, but could not find any takers.
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