Ilya Kovalchuk retires from the NHL

11 Jul 2013 | Fredrik Pålsson

The Russian superstar leaves the NHL and moves back to Russia

After 11 seasons in the NHL with 417 goals and 399 points making a total of 816 points in 816 games Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to break his 15 year contract that still was worth 77,000,000 USD with the New Jersey Devils and leave the NHL.

Kovalchuk will move home to Russia with his family but it's still unknown if he will join a KHL team.

In a statement on the New Jersey Devils' site Kovalchuk says "This decision was something I have thought about for a long time going back to the lockout and spending the year in Russia. Though I decided to return this past season, Lou was aware of my desire to go back home and have my family there with me. The most difficult thing for me is to leave the New Jersey Devils, a great organization that I have a lot of respect for, and our fans that have been great to me.”

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