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| KHL saga is nearly over. (Getty Images) |
If you haven't been keeping up with the NHL's latest soap opera, As Ilya Kovalchuk Turns, the most recent episode had the Devils superstar talking about his desire to finish the 2012-13 season in the KHL, even though he knew it wouldn't be likely given his contractual commitment (and it's a big one!) with New Jersey.
As of Friday morning, it appears we're finally reaching the end game in this saga. He is expected to leave for New Jersey as early as Monday.
That is, until something changes again.
SKA general manager Alexei Kasatonov said Friday, via Sports.ru's Igor Eronko on Twitter, that the team will release a statement regarding Kovalchuk's future before Saturday's KHL All-Star Game. Meanwhile, Puck Daddy's Dmitry Chesnokov passed along the word that SKA's coach said Thursday's game will likely be the last one Kovalchuk plays for the team, which means he could be leaving for New Jersey as early as Monday.
NHL training camps will be opening on Sunday. Kovalchuk's absence on the opening day of camp is seen as a big deal by at least one New Jersey player. Veteran Patrik Elias told Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record that, "It is. We’re all supposed to report on Sunday, right?"
The Devils obviously need Kovalchuk this season, not only because he's their best and most talented player but also because of the departure of forward Zach Parise in free agency over the summer and the sizable dent that has left in their offense.
Kovalchuk is coming off a 2011-12 season that saw him score 37 goals with 46 assists in 77 games, while also taking on more defensive responsibilities (including a large role on the Devils' top-ranked penalty kill) and improving his all-around game. The fact he was able to kill penalties and improve his defensive game while not seeing any sort of a drop in his offensive production (he actually increased it from the previous season) was pretty remarkable.
In all honesty, he probably should have received more MVP consideration than he did.
Kovalchuk still has 13 years remaining on the 15-year, $100 million contract that he signed before the 2010-11 season.
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