RUMOR: Former 50-goal scorer could be back in the NHL next year?

Former 50-goal scorer could be back in the NHL next year?

Hockey Night in Canada Analyst and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell.

According to him, Ilya Kovalchuk might be coming back to the NHL next year. Aivis Kalniņš, KHL insiders and KHL/European scouts corroborated this statement on his twitter account by adding seeing how Kovalchuk has not signed an extension with SKA, this has now evolved into a real good possibility.

Seeing how Kovalchuk has not signed an extension with SKA, this has now evolved into a real good possibility. https://t.co/gnZgHkEHs9
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) April 21, 2017

Ilya Kovalchuk played 816 games in the NHL with the Atlanta Trashers and the New Jersey Devils. The former first round pick overall in the 2001 NHL entry Draft score 417 goals and registered 399 assists for a total of 816 points.

Kovalchuk left the NHL to play for the St. Petersburg SKA (KHL) in 2013.

.@FriedgeHNIC drops a nugget and says Ilya Kovalchuk might be coming back to the #NHL. I know @A_Kalnins has been reporting this.
— ???? the pizzaman ???? (@wolfebltd) April 21, 2017