Ilya Kovalchuk is returning back to his home country to play in the KHL once again. After reports of him receiving little interest during free agency, the 37-year-old has officially inked a 2-year contract with Avangard Omsk.

Kovalchuk seemed like a lock to return the Canadiens this offseason after putting up 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists), but his lack of production in the postseason (1 assist in 8 games) and a flat salary cap seemed to have pushed him out of the NHL for the second time in his career.

Kovalchuk played 13 years in the NHL, potting 443 goals along with 876 points in 926 games. The Russia native never won a Stanley Cup, but he did make it to the Stanley Cup Finals with the New Jersey Devils back in 2012.

During his time in the KHL, Kovalchuk previously played for SKA St. Petersurg, tallying 327 points (138 goals, 189 assists) in 327 games. He is a three-time KHL All-Star and won the Gagarin Cup two times as a member of the team. He was also awarded MVP of the playoffs in 2015, but he refused to accept the award and instead passed it on to Evgenii Dadonov.

Kovalchuk will join another former first overall NHL pick with Avangard Omsk in Nail Yakupov, in hopes of winning another Gagarin Cup.

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