RUMOR: Ilya Kovalchuk’s next contract numbers are reportedly INSANE.

Ilya Kovalchuk"s next contract numbers are reportedly INSANE

The rumors surrounded Ilya Kovalchuk and a potential return to the National Hockey League have picked up some steam since the end of the regular season, but on Monday we got our first signs that Kovalchuk may be very serious about making a comeback.

Official reports from NHL insider Pierre LeBrun confirmed that “Devils GM Ray Shero says he has confirmed with agent Jay Grossman that Ilya Kovalchuk definitely wants to return to the NHL next season.”

Pierre Houde, Montreal Canadiens insiders and RDS veteran reporters added more details concerning Ilya Kovalchuk"s next contract numbers. Houde said Kovalchuk is looking for a minimum of 4-year contract at a minimum of 5 million per year.

If this is the reality, it’s far from what Radulov had last year. Fact is any contract for Kovalchuk next summer would be grouped into the 35-and-over class, which means he’d likely only be drawing one-year offers from all but the most desperate of teams.