Despite risking injury as the NHL’s top upcoming unrestricted free agent, Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to play for Russia in the upcoming World Championships in Germany.
Kovalchuk was MVP of last year’s Worlds, scored the winning goal the season before, and is likely to be in contention for the team captaincy. The two-time 52-goal scorer leads this year’s list of upcoming unrestricteds, and his comparative youth (27) places him at the top of the all-time list of UFAs.
Kovalchuk went 10-17-27 in 27 games with New Jersey after being traded with Anssi Salmela from Atlanta for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier, a first-rounder, and a swap of seconds, on Feb. 4. He went 2-4-6 in five playoff games to lead Devils scorers in their first-round loss to the Flyers.
Kovalchuk made $7.5 million last season, and turned down Atlanta offers of $70 million over seven years, and $101 million over 12.