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New Jersey Devils: Losing Ilya Kovalchuk Not Devastating

By Nick Villano

Feb 19, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; A view of the NHL Centennial logo on an official NHL puck of the Columbus Blue Jackets after being hit into the crowd at Nationwide Arena. The Predators won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; A view of the NHL Centennial logo on an official NHL puck of the Columbus Blue Jackets after being hit into the crowd at Nationwide Arena. The Predators won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The latest rumors on Ilya Kovalchuk say he’s once again negotiating a contract with the KHL. If this is true, it’s not the worst thing in the world for New Jersey Devils.

We all knew it was coming, once again the rumors surrounding Ilya Kovalchuk say he’s thinking about a return to SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. Sportsnet reports that talks are even further, saying that he’s speaking with his former team and an extension is “likely.” Some other reporters are not so convinced.

Some Devils fans will be devastated to lose out on Kovalchuk’s value. Obviously, the thought of Kovalchuk back in a Devils sweater has been long gone. The excitement for the Russian sniper was exclusively what he could command in a trade this offseason.

Losing that value will hurt at first, but it will have no long-term effects. The value of Kovalchuk seems to be much less than originally thought. While some believed he could bring a top-four defenseman, or at least a good young prospect to add to the Devils pool, it seems now the best the Devils could hope for is a decent draft pick next year and taking back a bad contract.

To be clear, a decent draft pick is not a first-round pick. It seems that teams weren’t willing to part with one in return for an unproven former superstar.

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This rumor will not be the last before this weekend’s deadline. Kovalchuk can sign on July 1st with the Devils. With a lack of free agency and trades to talk about for the next couple days, reporters will be looking for more information on a possible signing.

Kovalchuk is only 34 years old. He still has something left in the tank, and his loss would hurt if the Devils were in the running to keep him. However, from everything general manager Ray Shero says, Kovalchuk is not in the Devils plans. That makes losing him even easier. Devils fans are well equipped to deal with this situation. He’s left once before. This time will hurt much less.

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