Ilya Kovalchuk is no longer a Canadien.
The Canadiens announced Sunday night that general manager Marc Bergevin had traded the 36-year-old Russian winger to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a third-round pick at this year’s NHL Draft, which will be held at the Bell Centre.
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. Monday.
The Canadiens now have 13 picks at this year’s draft, including one in the first round, three in the second and two in the third.
Kovalchuk got off to a hot start with the Canadiens after signing with them as a free agent on Jan. 3 , but he had been slumping recently and his trade value was obviously dropping. Kovalchuk picked up an assist in Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Senators in Ottawa to end a six-game pointless streak, and has scored only one goal in the last 12 games.
In 22 games with the Canadiens, Kovalchuk posted 6-7-13 totals and was plus-6.
Since joining the Canadiens, Kovalchuk made it clear how much he enjoyed playing in Montreal, but he wouldn’t speculate on whether he might sign a new contract with the team before becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1. There were reports Bergevin and Kovalchuk’s agent, J.P. Barry, had discussions about a new deal.
“I’m not J.P., I’m not Marc. You have to ask them,” Kovalchuk told reporters when asked about those reports Saturday in Ottawa. “I’ve said multiple times I love everything here. It’s a great place to be.”
Kovalchuk had been listed at No. 7 on TSN Hockey’s Trade Bait List Sunday afternoon, while Canadiens centre Nate Thompson was at No. 35 and defenceman Jeff Petry was at No. 40.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Sunday night that the Canadiens intend to be bidders on Kovalchuk on July 1 if he doesn’t re-sign with the Capitals and becomes a free agent.
Kovalchuk started this season with the Los Angeles Kings in the second season of a three-year, US$18.75-million contract, but had only 3-6-9 totals in 17 games and was minus-10 before being put on unconditional waivers and having the remainder of his contract terminated on Dec. 17.
The Canadiens, who were hit hard by injuries early in the new year, decided to take a chance on Kovalchuk and signed him to a one-year, two-way contract that pays him a prorated US$700,000 in the NHL. LeBrun reported the Canadiens will keep 50 per cent of Kovalchuk’s league minimum salary-cap hit for the remainder of this season, which is about $76,000, since the Capitals are up against the Cap and every dollar helps them.
Kovalchuk was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the No. 1 pick at the 2001 NHL Draft. In 919 career NHL games, he has 442 goals and 430 assists for 872 points. The Capitals will be Kovalchuk’s fifth NHL team after stints with Atlanta, the New Jersey Devils, the Kings and Canadiens.
Kovalchuk has never won a Stanley Cup, but will have a good chance with the Capitals, who beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Sunday to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 38-18-6 record.
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