Ilya Kovalchuk hasn’t played at the NHL since departing North America in favor of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League at 2013, but the celebrity left-winger is set to make his return to the very best hockey league on the planet this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
When it comes to the chances on where Kovalchuk will property, online sportsbook BetOnline has tabbed the New York Rangers since the +200 front-runners, together with the Los Angeles Kings (+250), San Jose Sharks (+300), New York Islanders (+400), New Jersey Devils (+600) and Carolina Hurricanes (+1000) also readily available to bet on.
Kovalchuk gets a blank slate
At 35, it’s no secret Kovalchuk is past his prime, but he will be a hot commodity at no agency regardless of his age. The Russian established himself as one of the most prolific goal scorers in the NHL in his 11 decades, compiling 417 aims and 399 aids in 816 career matches. Kovalchuk spent his first eight seasons with an now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers prior to continuing on to the New Jersey Devils.
Kovalchuk’s time with the Devils was shrouded in controversy, however, as his first contract with the club was closed down from the NHL for salary cap circumvention. Soon after, the Devils inked him into a front-loaded 15-year, $100-million deal in 2010. Kovalchuk chose to”retire” three years to the contract to go back home and play SKA St. Petersburg, walking away from $77 million due to him from the Devils. New Jersey retained his rights until he turned 35 in April and became a free agent.
Which team has the inside edge to sign the sniper?
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Kovalchuk is expected to bring a contract period of 3 years with a mean annual value of $6 million annually. Kovalchuk’s main priority is reportedly winning a Stanley Cup, so expect him to become picky about an expected destination. He finished a California tour June 9 and 10, meeting with the Sharks and Kings — equally legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
While it’s understandable to see that the Devils on the board at +600, there is simply too much bad blood between the two sides for Kovalchuk to be reunited with his former staff, in my view. Packed with cap space and needing an injection of gift, the Rangers make sense as the favorites, but the value on the Sharks and Kings makes each of them an interesting choice.
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