More info revealed on Ilya Kovalchuk’s return to the NHL

Last Friday, it was announced that the Omsk Avangard of the Kontinental Hockey League and veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk have mutually agreed to terminate his contract. This prompted several rumours that the 38-year-old forward might be looking for another comeback in the National Hockey League and finally, reporter Andrew Zadarnowski confirmed that Kovy expects to return to the NHL for 2021-22. 

Then on Tuesday, Elliotte Friedman spoke with Kovy’s Avangard head coach Bob Hartley about his return to the NHL and revealed this in the latest 31 Thoughts column on Sportsnet: 

Bob Hartley is now in Riga, coaching Latvia at the upcoming World Championships. He just led Avangard Omsk to the KHL’s Gagarin Cup. He’s got a long history with Ilya Kovalchuk, who at 37, played a critical part in that victory and terminated his contract with the club right after. Does he want to come back?

“No doubt,” Hartley answered without hesitation. “He wants to play in the NHL.”

The coach said he called an unsigned Kovalchuk earlier this season, telling him to come to the KHL “and show the NHL you can still play…. Kovy was a huge help for me. His dream is to win a Stanley Cup.”

This is great news directly from his coach’s mouth, adding how Kovalchuk was a great help to get the team to become champions. We bet NHL teams are listening and might be convinced by Hartley’s comments and Kovy’s play! 

In December 2019, his deal with the Los Angeles Kings was terminated and the veteran forward found the perfect fit with the Montreal Canadiens on a league minimum, $700,000 contract. We however didn’t get to see much after he was traded to the Washington Capitals at the 2020 trade deadline. He put up four points in seven games before COVID shut down the season and struggled - as the rest of the Caps did - in the qualifying round of the NHL’s Return to Play plan. It was then reported that the Habs were once again interest in Kovalchuk and might have talked about an offer with him - but it did not get done. 

Maybe this summer, he will find the right fit and get back to the NHL as he intends to do. Hartley seems to think it will happen. 

Where do you see him play next season?