This Week in Canadiens History: April 12th to April 17th
By Joshua Rosa
April 15th
Happy Birthday Ilya Kovalchuk!
On this day, the year of our Lord 1983, Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk was born in Kalinin, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. Kovalchuk became the first Russian born player to be selected 1st overall, when the Atlanta Thrashers selected him in 2001.
In 2003-04, Kovalchuk won the Rocket Richard along with Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash, who all finished the season with 41 goals.
Later in his career, Kovalchuk became embroiled in one of the most ridiculous bidding wars for a player ever seen. The Thrashers had been bad during Kovalchuk’s whole career, so Kovalchuk decided to turn down a $101 million, 12 year contract, and a subsequent 7 year, $70 million contract offer from Atlanta.
Kovalchuk was then traded to the New Jersey Devils, and signed a 17 year, $102 million contract, which the NHL voided and claimed was cap circumvention. The Devils were fined $3 million and lost two draft picks. The contract was changed to a mere 15 year, $100 million.
However, Kovalchuk retired from the NHL with 12 years and $77 million left on his contract and played in the KHL. At the time, Kovalchuk retired with 816 points in 816 games. But he would return to the NHL on the L.A. Kings in 2018 on a three-year deal.
L.A. terminated his contract late in 2019, and the Montreal Canadiens signed him to a league minimum contract in 2020. Kovalchuk flourished more in Montreal, registering 14 points in 22 games before being traded to the Washington Capitals for a playoff run that would be cut short with a first round loss. Kovalchuk last played for Avangard Omsk in the KHL.