Ilya Kovaluchuk’s highly anticipated signing period has finally come to an end.
On Saturday, the 35-year-old signed a three year $18.75 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Kovalchuk is returning to the NHL after a brief career in the KHL from 2013-2018.
The Tver, Russia native did his most previous damage in the NHL as a member of the New Jersey Devils. Kovalchuk nearly led the team to a Stanley Cup before ironically falling short to the Los Angeles Kings in six games. After giving him one of the largest contracts in NHL history, the team seemingly hasn’t forgotten about his little hiatus from the league and have already marked his return back to Jersey in their calender. Oh- and they made sure to get a little help from The Office’s Ryan.
Too good.
Their Twitter following was impressed and decided to jump in the thread with a few Office references of their own. Here are some of the best ones:
The teams will actually meet ahead of their February matinee in December when they face off at the Staples Centre on December 6. Only a few of his former teammates, including Travis Zajac and Andy Greene, remain with the team.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Time will tell how Kovalchuk does in his first season back, but you can bet most Devils fans already have his return marked on their calendars.
(H/T New Jersey Devils)
