Career
Before playing in the NHL, Kovalchuk played parts of two seasons with Spartak Moscow of the Vysshaya Liga.
He was drafted 1st overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2001 NHL entry draft. With this pick, Kovalchuk became the first Russian to ever be drafted 1st overall in the NHL. On 14 August, Kovalchuk signed an entry-level contract to join the Thrashers. On 4 October, Kovalchuk made his NHL debut in a 2–1 win against the Buffalo Sabres. During the game, he also recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Niklas Hagman goal. Two days later, he scored his first career NHL goal against Byron Dafoe in a 4–3 overtime loss against the Boston Bruins. Kovalchuk was productive in his rookie season, scoring 29 goals and recording 22 for 51 points. He was second in voting begins his teammate Dany Heatley for the Calder Memorial Trophy but was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He had a successful 2003–04 season, scoring 41 goals and recording 46 assists for 87 points. He was awarded the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy that season, which he shared with Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla. He was selected for his first NHL All-Star game that season. After the NHL entered a lockout, Kovalchuk decided to head back to Russia and play for Ak Bars Kazan and Khimik Moscow Oblast of the Russian Superleague (RSL). After the lockout ended, Kovalchuk intended to come back to the NHL and play for the Thrashers but he was unable to agree to a new contract with the team and stayed in Russia to continue playing for Khimik Moscow Oblast. On 8 October 2005, Kovalchuk signed a five-year, $32 million contract to stay with the Thrashers. During the 2006–07 season, Kovalchuk was able to help the Thrashers reach their first-ever playoffs. The Thrashers went on to be defeated by the New York Rangers four games to zero in the first round. It was the first and last time in the Thrashers history that they reached the playoffs. On 11 January 2009, the Thrashers named Kovalchuk as the next captain of the team. The Thrashers first attempted to re-sign Kovalchuk to a twelve-year, $101 million contract and then a seven-year, $70 million contract but he declined both offers.
On 4 February 2010, the Thrashers traded Kovalchuk along with Anssi Salmela and a 2010 second-round draft pick to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, Johnny Oduya, and both a 2010 first- and second round draft pick. He helped the Devils during the playoffs. They defeated the Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, and the New York Rangers. They eventually went on to be defeated the Los Angeles Kings four games to two in the Final. Kovalchuk was playing injured during the playoffs after he herniated a disc in his lower back.
On 1 July 2010, Kovalchuk became an unrestricted free agent. There were many offers for him during this time. On 19 July, Kovalchuk decided to agree on a seventeen-year, $102 million contract to remain with the Devils. It was the largest contract ever in NHL history. The NHL did not like this deal because it was used to get around the salary cap and they decided to block it. On 4 September, the NHL approved the next submitted deal and Kovalchuk signed a fifteen-year, $100 million contract to stay with the Devils. After the NHL went into another lockout, Kovalchuk returned to Russia and played for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He did not return to the Devils immediately after the lockout ended. Instead, he decided to play in the KHL All-Star game.
On 11 July 2013, Kovalchuk announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey in the NHL. Four days later on 15 July, Kovalchuk signed a four-year contract to re-join SKA Saint Petersburg. He helped SKA during the playoffs. They defeated Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Dynamo Moscow, and CSKA Moscow. They eventually went on to defeat Ak Bars Kazan four games to one in the Final to win the Gagarin Cup. Kovalchuk won the playoffs MVP but refuses to accept it and gave the award to his teammate Evgenii Dadonov.
On 23 June 2018, Kovalchuk decided to come out of retirement and returned to the NHL after signing a three-year, $6.25 million contract to join the Los Angeles Kings. On 5 February 2019, Kovalchuk and the Kings played against the Devils. It was Kovalchuk's first time back in New Jersey and every time he touched he puck, he was booed by angry Devils fans who felt that he abandoned the team. The Kings went on to defeat the Devils 5–1. On 17 December 2019, the Kings put Kovalchuk on unconditional waivers and he cleared them to become a free agent.
On 3 January 2020, Kovalchuk signed a one-year, two-way contract to join the Montreal Canadiens. He played 22 games for the Canadiens, scoring 6 goals and recording 7 assists for 13 points.
On 23 February 2020, the Canadiens traded Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick. He played 22 games for the Capitals, scoring 1 regular season goal and recording 3 assists for 4 points.
on 26 December 202, Kovalchuk once again left the NHL and returned to the KHL after signing a two-year contract to join Avangard Omsk. He helped Avangard during the playoffs. They defeated Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and Ak Bars Kazan. They eventually went on to defeat CSKA Moscow four games to two in the Final to win his second Gagarin Cup.
On 14 March 2025, Kovalchuk announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey.
Russia