Columbus Blue Jackets Possible Destination for Ilya Kovalchuk

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Artemi Panarin in a trade less than a week ago. Will the arrival of Panarin help CBJ become an option to land his former teammate, Ilya Kovalchuk?

Columbus Blue Jackets President John Davidson stated Tuesday that the team is looking into Ilya Kovalchuk. On Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Davidson said that he had a conversation with Kovalchuk’s agent earlier Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Kovalchuk hasn’t played in the NHL since 2013. Following a 31-point season in the lockout-shortened year, Ilya retired from the NHL and returned to the motherland. There, he has been treated and has played like a superstar.

In four seasons (209 games), Kovalchuk has compiled 222 points for the Kontinental Hockey League’s St. Petersburg SKA. That’s the same team CBJ prospect Vladislav Gavrikov just signed with. In addition to the stats, Ilya played with a certain Russian, a new Columbus Blue Jackets player.

Panarin-Kovalchuk Past

From 2013-2015, Ilya played alongside Artemi Panarin. The duo won the Gagarin Cup in 2015, the first in team history. That same year Panarin left Russia to pursue a career in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Related Story: Blue Jackets acquire Artemi Panarin

While Panarin was in Chicago showing that he was a star, Kovalchuk won another Gagarin Cup with St. Petersburg SKA.

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Since Ilya’s departure from the NHL, there has always been rumors of a return. Upon retiring, Ilya left a hefty $77 million sum on the table with the New Jersey Devils. This was a part of his historic 15-year, $100 million deal that he signed with the club in 2010.

Due to his retirement, Kovalchuk’s rights would still be owned by the Devils if he decides to return to the NHL. And reportedly, he is itching to get back in the league.

With Davidson’s comments, it’s intriguing to think about what it would take to trade for Ilya. The Jackets are rumored to be in talks to acquire Matt Duchene, another scorer that could revive CBJ’s offense.

The Blue Jackets struggled mightily in the last month of the season when it came to putting the puck in the net. The trade for Panarin was a start, but a trade for Duchene or Kovalchuk could be just the thing to push through to the Stanley Cup finals next season.