NHL Team reportedly out of the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes.

The choices are narrowing

Rumors have been circulating for weeks that former NHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk will make his much-anticipated return to the NHL in 2016-17 after a four years' sojourn into the KHL. 

Igor Eronko, Sport-Express’ hockey writer & KHL insider officially reported according to some sources the New York Rangers would be out of the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes.

Regardless of who ultimately acquires Kovalchuk, they’ll first need to trade for his rights from the New Jersey Devils before they can sign him to a new contract. Even so, Devils general manager Ray Shero maintains that Kovalchuk is “driving the bus” with regards to his NHL future.