Kovalchuk signed a two-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL on Saturday.
Kovalchuk played for three different NHL teams in 2019-20, picking up 10 goals and 26 points in 46 games split between the Kings, Canadiens and Capitals. The 37-year-old winger could have a found a new landing spot in the NHL if he wanted to, but he evidently preferred the prospect of returning to his native Russia. It wouldn't be surprising to see Kovalchuk finish up his playing career overseas.
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Capitals' Ilya Kovalchuk: Notches helper Sunday
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Kovalchuk tallied an assist while logging 11:11 of ice time during Sunday's 2-1 round-robin win over the Bruins.
The helper was Kovalchuk's first point of the postseason, and he also added four shots and six hits in three games. The eventual return of Lars Eller (personal) should help the 37-year-old get more chances at even-strength moving forward, but the lack of a larger offensive role keeps his fantasy value in playoff formats fairly limited.
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Capitals' Ilya Kovalchuk: First goal as a Capital
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Kovalchuk scored his first goal as a member of the Capitals and added an assist in Thursday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Rangers.
Kovalchuk was in on Washington's first two goals in this back-and-forth affair, assisting on Carl Hagelin's tally in the opening frame before adding a goal of his own in the second period. He's being deployed in a third-line role and skating on the second power-play unit, so Kovalchuk is more of a complementary piece on his new team after taking on a leading role during his brief stint in Montreal.
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Capitals' Ilya Kovalchuk: First point with Caps
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Kovalchuk registered an assist, two shots on goal and four PIM in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Wild.
Kovalchuk earned the secondary helper on Alex Ovechkin's second tally in the first period. It's Kovalchuk's first point in three games with the Capitals. For the season, he's at 23 points , 105 shots, 18 PIM and a minus-6 rating in 42 contests, which also includes stints in Montreal and Los Angeles. Without a top-six role, Kovalchuk likely won't interest most fantasy owners.
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Capitals' Ilya Kovalchuk: Will skate on third line
Rotowire
Kovalchuk will play alongside Lars Eller and Carl Hagelin on the third line when he makes his Capitals debut Tuesday against the Jets, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.
Kovalchuk's initial assignment may not be a boon for his fantasy value, as his productive stint in Montreal was boosted by a generous average of 18:54 of ice time, which does not seem to be in the cards initially in his new home. While the 36-year-old is expected to run the point on the second power-play unit, fantasy owners in standard formats would be wise to wait for a few games and see how the Russian responds to what appears to be a reduced offensive role.
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Capitals' Ilya Kovalchuk: Dealt to D.C.
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The Capitals acquired Kovalchuk from the Canadiens in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick Sunday.
Kovalchuk found new life in Montreal after he was released by the Kings earlier this season. In 22 games with the Canadiens, he tallied six goals and 13 points with a plus-6 rating. It'll be interesting to see where the 36-year-old winger slots into Washington's lineup.
Kovalchuk had four shots, two hits and one blocked shot in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars.
The Canadiens' offensive slumber has affected Kovalchuk, who hasn't hit the scoresheet in any of the last four games. He began his stay in Montreal with 12 points over the first 15 contests, never going more than one match without a point. The 37-year-old forward, who is averaging 19:20 of ice time with Montreal, has proven there's still some hockey in him. As such, Kovalchuk is a prime candidate to be moved at the trade deadline Feb. 24. That would create a roster spot for a prospect like Ryan Poehling or Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Buries OT winner versus Leafs
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Kovalchuk scored the overtime goal in Saturday's 2-1 win versus Toronto.
More of the same from the Russian-born winger, who picked up his 12th point in a Canadiens jersey. Kovalchuk continues to show he's got plenty left in the tank and what began as a season to forget has turned into a fruitful fantasy campaign for the 36-year-old veteran.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Adds assist in loss
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Kovalchuk had an assist and two hits in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Blue Jackets.
The Russian has 10 points in 12 games with the Canadiens, exceeding the nine points in 17 outings he posted with the Kings earlier in the year. Overall, 19 points and 64 shots doesn't look that great, but he's been hot since signing in Montreal, making him worth a look in fantasy as well.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: New line, no problem
Rotowire
Kovalchuk scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Thursday's 3-1 win over Buffalo.
Kovalchuk was moved to a new line to accommodate the return of Brendan Gallagher (concussion), and the veteran had no issues meshing with Joel Armia and Nick Suzuki. He finished off a sequence of events in tight quarters near the net, lifting the puck to the far top corner over goalie Carter Hutton for the game-tying score early in the second period. The goal was his fourth in the last four games and fifth in 10 games since he joined Montreal.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Eight points in eight games as Hab
Rotowire
Kovalchuk scored his seventh goal of the season Saturday in a 5-4 shootout win over the Golden Knights.
Too many people were afraid to scoop this old man off the waiver wire after he moved to Quebec, but it's probably too late now. Kovalchuk has eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight games in bleu, blanc et rouge. We can't see this continuing at this pace -- Kovalchuk's feet are far slower than today's game. But short term, he can help you if he's available.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Scores twice in win over Flyers
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Kovalchuk had two goals in a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on Thursday.
Kovalchuk was irrelevant with the Kings but has been anything but since joining the Canadiens, now with seven points in seven contests with Montreal. The 36-year-old's first of the night came with the man advantage and turned out to be the game-winning goal. Two of Kovalchuk's first three goals with his new club have been decisive difference makers.
Kovalchuk registered an assist and four hits in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks.
Kovalchuk has been excellent since joining the Canadiens, with a goal and four helpers in six games. He's at 14 points in 23 appearances overall when factoring in his time with the Kings, but the recent form suggests the 36-year-old Russian might have a little gas left in the tank after all.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Gets first goal as member of Habs
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Kovalchuk scored his first goal as a member of the Canadiens in a 2-1 overtime win over the Senators on Saturday.
His wrister went in off the right post. Kovalchuk has four points in four games with the Habs. The old man seems to still have it, despite pundits saying his signing was a bad one for the bleu, blanc et rouge. Check your wire. Kovy may be there and he might just help.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Shines in second game with Habs
Rotowire
Kovalchuk tallied two assists, one with the man advantage, in a 4-3 loss to Detroit on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old led Montreal forwards in ice time (21:22) and rewarded his team with a pair of assists, giving Kovalchuk three helpers in his first two games as a Canadien. It remains to be seen what role Kovalchuk will have on the team once it gets injured regulars back in the lineup, but early signs suggest Kovalchuk has plenty left in the tank and could easily carve out a regular role with a healthy Canadiens club. His fantasy value is climbing steadily.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Skates on top line
Rotowire
Kovalchuk had an assist, four shots and six hits over 19:25 of ice time in Monday's 3-2 loss to Winnipeg.
Kovalchuk was active in his Montreal debut as evidenced by the number of hits; the six hits are half the number he recorded in 17 games with the Kings this season. He skated on the Canadiens' top line, taking the spot of Brendan Gallagher (concussion) on the right wing, and finished second among the team's forwards in ice time. That's a good sign as the Canadiens were concerned about the 36-year-old forward's conditioning after he had not played in a game since mid-November. The veteran will have his conditioning tested Tuesday when the Habs play the second of a back-to-back set at Detroit.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Set for Canadiens debut
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Kovalchuk will play in Monday's game versus the Jets after clearing up visa issues, Matt Cudzinowski of the Canadiens' official site reports.
Kovalchuk signed a league-minimum deal with the Habs on Friday after his stint in Los Angeles didn't pan out. The Russian sniper is in line for a major workload right away, as he worked with the first line and top power-play unit during Monday's practice. Kovalchuk rarely played in the top six with the Kings, so this is a "prove-it" situation for now.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Will practice Sunday
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Kovalchuk will participate in his first practice with Montreal on Sunday, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.
Kovalchuk arrived in Montreal on Saturday but was not ready to suit up for that evening's game against Pittsburgh. The 36-year-old forward said he's been skating nearly every day since becoming an unrestricted free agent after the Kings terminated his three-year contract Dec. 17. The Canadiens will get a look at Kovalchuk on Sunday before deciding on a role. The 2001 first-overall pick (2001) scored 184 power-play goals during his career, so Kovalchuk could be used on that unit.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Sitting out Saturday
Rotowire
Kovalchuk won't play in Saturday's game against the Penguins since he's still working out visa issues, Dave Molinari of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Kovalchuk signed with the Canadiens on Friday, but the paperwork won't be sorted out in time for the 36-year-old to make his debut with the new squad. He'll aim to crack the lineup Monday versus the Jets, and he figures to work in a middle-six role with power-play responsibilities.
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Canadiens' Ilya Kovalchuk: Working on visa issues
Rotowire
Kovalchuk is unlikely to be in the lineup for Saturday night's game against the Penguins, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.
Kovalchuk, who was signed by Montreal on Friday, is still working on visa issues, so it's unlikely he'll be ready for Saturday's game. He signed a two-way contract, but the 36-year-old forward is not expected to spend any time at AHL Laval. The Canadiens made this low-risk move because they have four of their top nine forwards on injured reserve. The Habs will need to assess his fitness before deciding how to deploy Kovalchuk in the lineup.
