With the KHL set to expand into China, reports suggested that former New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk would join the team in 2016-17. Those reports are apparently false, as Kovalchuk told Aivis Kalnins of One Puck Short that he’s going to honor his contract with SKA St. Petersburg.
“I have a contract with SKA for one more season,” Kovalchuk said. “It will be a pleasure and I will be happy to represent them for the remainder of my contract.”
When asked about the potential of playing in China, Kovalchuk played coy, telling Kalnins they don’t have a hockey team yet.
“China? What China? They don’t have a hockey team there just yet.”
Kovalchuk had a rocky year with SKA St. Petersburg, despite averaging nearly a point per game with 16 goals, 33 assists, and 49 points in 50 games. He eventually fell out of favor with the club, having his captaincy stripped and getting benched for part of the playoffs. A split seemed like a necessary resolution- which is why the reports suggesting Kovalchuk was going to China made sense. Kovalchuk would have given the Beijing club a very marketable high-profile player, and would enter a situation where he would have been the de facto scorer and might have made more money.
Considering he still has one year left on his deal with SKA, it’s unlikely he goes to China unless his contract is terminated or the new club somehow acquires him. The situation is messy, but Kovalchuk will play next season in Russia.
