NHL Veteran and Former First-Overall Pick Makes a Comeback to Professional Hockey

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Hunter Bowman
December 24, 2023 (4:42 PM)

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After a hiatus since spring 2021, Ilya Kovalchuk, the former first-overall pick and 13-season NHL veteran, made a comeback to professional hockey, donning the Spartak Moscow jersey in the KHL.

Having signed a one-year deal with Spartak Moscow a couple of weeks ago, Kovalchuk geared up for his season debut, which took place on Sunday against the struggling Kunlun Red Star in the Tarasov Division.

The 2001 first-overall pick found himself on Spartak Moscow's second line for his return, skating alongside former teammate Andrei Lotkinov and winger Maxim Tsyplakov.

As anticipated, Spartak Moscow secured a 5-2 victory, with the 40-year-old Kovalchuk making an immediate impact in his return, scoring an empty-netter for his first goal of the season.

During his break from professional hockey, the Tver, Russia native served as the general manager for Russia in the 2022 Winter Olympics, guiding them to a silver medal after a loss to Finland in the final.

Throughout his 13-year NHL career, Kovalchuk played for the Atlanta Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals, accumulating 876 points (443 goals, 433 assists) in 926 games.

Source: Bladeofsteel