Ilya Kovalchuk has chosen the West Coast for his return to the NHL and pursuit of a Stanley Cup.
The former Devils and Thrashers star has agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Kings, the team announced Saturday, ending a weekslong courting process that had been trimmed to four finalists entering this weekend's NHL Draft.
2018 UFA RANKINGS: Forwards | Defensemen | Goalies
Kovalchuk's contract is wroth $18.75 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie — the same term and money veteran Patrick Marleau was given by the Maple Leafs last offseason.
The deal can't be finalized until July 1, when the NHL's free agency period officially begins.
Kovalchuk, 35, last played an NHL game in 2013. He infamously departed for Russia's Kontinental Hockey League three seasons into a 15-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Devils in 2010, leaving $77 million on the table in retirement. He resumed his playing career with St. Petersburg SKA, scoring 120 goals across five seasons.
The Devils maintained Kovalchuk's rights over the years until this summer, when he officially became an unrestricted free agent.
It's been a long time since Kovalchuk — with eight 30-goal NHL seasons to his credit — competed against NHL-caliber goaltending, but that didn't seem to impact teams' interest on the open market. In a free-agent class that could include John Tavares, Kovalchuk was the only player available who's averaged a point per game in his career (816 in 816 games)
The Kings beat out the Bruins, Sharks, Golden Knights for Kovalchuk's services, accordingly to multiple reports. He and agent J.P. Barry met with the four finalists Friday.
