Ilya Kovalchuk hasn’t played in the NHL since 2013. His departure to his homeland may have left a bad taste in the mouths of not only fans of the New Jersey Devils, but hockey fans in general. Money talked and Kovalchuck listened.
Well, Kovalchuk is back playing hockey in North America and has a new team to call home.
Kovalchuk signed with the Los Angeles Kings officially on July 1st of 2018, but the reports of his signing came in late June. Many wondered if the former sharpshooter still had the skill and speed to play in hockey’s highest ranking professional league.
If there was any doubt that Kovalchuk couldn’t hang with today’s players, it was all washed away in the Kings’ loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
BREAKING: Ilya Kovalchuk still has it ? pic.twitter.com/FcHiyNMzux
— x – LA Kings (@LAKings) September 21, 2018
Starting in his own defensive zone, Kovalchuk skated up the right wing with speed. It was a one-on-two, as Kovy had no black sweaters in the vicinity to help. In true Kovalchuck fashion, he danced around the defender, deking through Nicolas Hauge‘s legs. Kovy corralled the puck and beat Oscar Dansk to finish the play and put a goal up on the board for Los Angeles.
Ilya Kovalchuk just went coast-to-coast and through the legs of the defenseman … again, this is ONLY preseason but wow did that look good
— Josh Cooper (@JoshuaCooper) September 21, 2018
It was pure vintage, Kovalchuk. Whether you disagreed with his departure or was rooting for him in Russia, you can’t deny that he is a gifted goal scorer and hockey player.
Any lingering doubt I had about Ilya Kovalchuk was just eliminated. Yes, it's a 6-1 preseason game but the man just cashed in a highlight reel goal. Split 2 defenders and easily beat goalie with a wrister.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) September 21, 2018
Will this be enough to quiet the haters or do you think Kovalchuk still doesn’t belong in the NHL?
