Former First Overall Pick Makes Shocking Christmas Day Announcement: His Career is Over
After being drafted first overall in 2001, playing for five NHL franchises, and winning a Rocket Richard, Ilya Kovalchuk's career is coming to an end.
Ilya Kovalchuk has flip-flopped in and out of retirement for years, but, in a new interview, he has officially determined that his professional career is likely over, as he has slowed down.
At Age 41, Ilya Kovalchuk Is Ready to Hang Up the Skates
Last season, with Spartak Moskva of the KHL, Kovalchuk had a mere eight points in 20 games, a far cry from the player that held up a nearly point-per-game pace in the NHL for over 900 games.
He has accomplished all one could want in a career other than a Stanley Cup win, including two fifty-goal seasons, three all-star games, and a Gagarin Cup win (the KHL's championship trophy).
Many will remember Kovalchuk for the ridiculous contract he once signed with the New Jersey Devils. Had that 17 year long contract lasted, he'd still be on it for three more years.
Kovalchuk said that he would be open to a position in management earlier this year, and it is not impossible that the role is in North America.
Having played for the Atlanta Thrashers, a possible Atlanta expansion team could be a great landing spot for Kovalchuk to go in as an executive. Also having played for the New Jersey Devils, LA Kings, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals, Kovalchuk is no stranger to the North American market.
We will see what's next for the former first overall pick, but his accolades speak for themselves, and the hockey hall of fame should be calling in the not-so-distant future.
Congrats on an amazing career, Ilya!
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mark Scheifele | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Kyle Connor | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Sidney Crosby | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | 4 | 4 | |
| Dylan Holloway | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Jack Hughes | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jirí Kulich | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jonathan Marchessault | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Brad Marchand | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Kirill Marchenko | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Rickard Rakell | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Filip Forsberg | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Sean Monahan | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Gabriel Vilardi | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Zachary Werenski | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Michael Bunting | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Elias Pettersson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| John Tavares | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Dmitry Voronkov | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Charlie Coyle | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 36 | 25 | 10 | 1 | 51 | |
Golden Knights | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 49 | |
Devils | 37 | 23 | 11 | 3 | 49 | |
Capitals | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 48 | |
Wild | 35 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 46 | |
Panthers | 36 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 46 | |
Oilers | 34 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 44 | |
Maple Leafs | 35 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 44 | |
Hurricanes | 34 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 43 | |
Kings | 34 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 43 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||