Ilya Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk is a Russian winger on the New Jersey Devils.

Kovalchuk, one of the most talented players in the NHL today, broke into the league in 2001, becoming the first Russian drafted first overall in NHL history. He earned this honor after playing Spartak Moscow, scoring 28 goals and 46 points in 40 games in his last season there. In his first season with the Thrashers, he recorded 29 goals and 51 points. Over the next three seasons with Atlanta, he continued to increase his point total, culminating in 2005-06, when he set career highs with 52 goals and 46 assists for 98 points. In 2004, his 41 goals were enough for a share of the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the player with the most goals in a season. Kovalchuk has been an All-Star twice, in 2004 and 2008. In 2010, with his contract coming to an end and no extension in place with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk was set to become an unrestricted free agent. Rather than let him leave the club and get nothing in return, the Thrashers traded him to the New Jersey Devils for Niclas Bergfors, Johnny Oduya and a first round draft pick. Kovalchuk was supposed to make the Devils a Cup contender but they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. After the playoffs, he became a UFA, and became the subject of one of the largest controversies in recent memory. After months of speculation and rumors, he finally inked a massive deal with the Devils for 17 years and $102 million. However, because the contract was so front loaded and made it so that he would actually benefit from not playing the last few years of the contract, the NHL vetoed the deal. Kovalchuk then became an unrestricted free agent yet again, and remains unsigned, although it is assumed he and the Devils will work something out.