The Los Angeles Kings have decided that Ilya Kovalchuk will not be playing for them, at least not for the next while. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet is reporting that the team informed Kovalchuk he will not be in the lineup “for the foreseeable future,” though he is still allowed to practice with the team. Friedman does not expound or speculate on why the veteran forward has been removed.
Kovalchuk, 36, signed a three-year $18.75MM contract in the summer of 2018 after playing five seasons in the KHL. The enigmatic forward had “retired” from the NHL previously, but decided to return after his exclusive rights with the New Jersey Devils expired. Things haven’t gone swimmingly in Los Angeles however, as Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch at times last season and recorded just 34 points in 64 games.
This season under a new coaching staff led by Todd McLellan—the third head coach since Kovalchuk’s arrival—he had seen even less ice time than a year ago, averaging just over 15 minutes a night. Kovalchuk has provided nine points in 17 games (which actually put him third among all Kings’ forwards), but still isn’t that impact player he had been before his years in Russia.
Though details are thin, this will obviously lead to plenty of speculation about a potential trade. Currently, Kovalchuk has a full no-movement clause (which also means he can’t be sent to the minor leagues) and could basically choose his destination out of any suitors. Whether there will be much interest at this point is unclear, though teams have expressed some in the past.
At last season’s trade deadline, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic wrote that Kovalchuk was “definitely available” and that he would waive his clause if the right fit presented itself. One important thing to note is that if Kovalchuk decided to retire again, the Kings would still carry his full $6.25MM cap hit because his contract was signed after his 35th birthday. After December 15th when his next bonus payment is due, more than $13.8MM of his contract will have already been paid out in signing bonuses and salary.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
mikenowo1
Igor Eronko also tweeted that he hears Avangard Omsk may want to bring him back to Russia. Interesting stuff.
amk3510
Of course Kovalchuk becomes the whipping boy when there are so many other unproductive vets. Could never dare let Trevor Lewis lose a spot for a kid.
kingsfan1968
Send him to Ontario. That should motivate him or he can waive his no trade clause or retire.
goalieguy41
He can’t be sent to minors. Read the article.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
Kovalchuk was already the instant winner of the “Worst Over-35 Cap-Era signing of the Millennium”, but now may be challenging for “Worst signing of All-Time!”…what..a…mess…
amk3510
The worst signing of all time has to be a lot more than 3 years.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
Sorry, but a signing that was panned when it was still in the rumor stages, with everybody and their brother screaming “Don’t DO IT!”…fast-tracks this one to the top. It was more-or-less based on his big-fat-hairy-deal performance at the Olympics & World’s against mostly AHL’ers and other standouts on the European Tour, not the usual NHL’ers.
DarkSide830
he’s been good enough to stick in the NHL. that counts for something.
Kwflanne
Where are those people who were saying he was good but the coaches last year didn’t use him properly? ….. crickets.
Another poor signing by this front office. Every day, it’s looking more and more like a loooooong rebuild, instead of a 2-3 year turnaround
amk3510
“Another” poor signing by “this” front office? Who else has Rob Blake signed thats bad? Lets hear it. Kovy is a bust but its the only bad fingerprint RB put on the roster. The rest of the bad eggs are on Dean.