A few hockey fans had a Kevin Durant-like criticism for Kovalchuk signing with the Kings

For the first time in Ilya Kovalchuk's NHL career, he'll be playing in the Western Conference.  Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings announced they had signed the 35-year-old to a three-year-deal.

Fans were pretty critical of the signing, but it's going to be exciting to see one of the game's best goal scorers back in the NHL and playing for the team that he lost to in the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.

The comparison isn't really an accurate (or fair) one, but by the letter of the law the "can't beat them, join them" philosophy is somewhat true.

As per Pierre LeBrun, Los Angeles was always Kovalchuk's top destination, though, and you can't blame him for going to a Cup contender in the sun.