At the age of 42, former New Jersey Devils star Ilya Kovalchuk is set to announce his retirement from professional hockey imminently.
The 2001 No. 1 overall pick last played professionally sporting the uniform of his boyhood club, Spartak Moskva, scoring four goals, four assists, and eight points in 20 games in the 2023-24 season.
Kovalchuk has otherwise not played competitively in three of the last four seasons, dating back to the 2020-21 season he spent with Avangard Omsk and incoming Devils prospect Arseniy Gritsyuk.
In a recent interview with Sport-Express, Kovalchuk has shared that the curtain call on his playing career is coming shortly.
"I think it will be official soon. I have said many times that I am not preparing for the season as seriously as before. I have more free time, so I can play padel," Kovalchuk said of his impending retirement.
As for a potential organized farewell match of some kind?
"I don't yet have a clear of idea of how it should look," said Kovalchuk. "so when I have some thoughts, I will definitely do something interesting."
Assuming this is truly it for the buccaneering Russian forward, Kovalchuk concludes his pro career with 443 goals, 433 assists, and 876 points in 926 NHL games, including 222 games, 89 goals, 112 assists, and 201 points with the Devils.
Back home in Russia's KHL, Kovalchuk managed 147 goals, 205 assists, and 352 points in 334 games across eight seasons, most of which came after his retirement and subsequent departure from the Devils in 2013.