Devils GM plans to reach out to Kovalchuk’s agent next week

Nick Kypreos and Elliotte Friedman break down the biggest stories in the NHL, focusing on the Buffalo Sabres’ search for a coach and Ilya Kovalchuk potentially coming back to the NHL.

New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero says he plans on speaking with Ilya Kovalchuk‘s agent next week to see if the Russian star is interested in returning to the NHL.

Kovalchuk, 34, last played in the NHL with the Devils during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. After that season, he retired and returned to Russia to play in the KHL.

Since Kovalchuk was a member of the Devils when he retired, the team has first dibs on him should he plan to return. If he wants to play somewhere else, all 30 other teams would need to approve him becoming a free agent.

“The New Jersey Devils own his rights, he could sign and play for them no problem,” Elliotte Friedman said on Hockey Night in Canada’s April 22 Headlines segment. “If he wants to play for somebody else, technically all the other NHL teams would have to approve it.

“But here’s the way that this I think is going to work: if he doesn’t want to play for New Jersey or if New Jersey doesn’t want him playing for them, and neither the agent nor the team is commenting on this, I think whoever gets him is going to work out either a sign and trade with New Jersey or they’re going to trade for his rights.”

Whatever does happen, it’s now clear the Devils are at least interested in seeing what Kovalchuk plans to do next season.

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