Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchukis a Russian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League. He debuted in the Vysshaya Liga with Spartak Moscow, before continuing his career in the National Hockey League. Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career with them in 2001–02. After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in February 2010, and later...
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth15 April 1983
CityTver, Russia
He took a stupid penalty. He's an 18-year-old kid, and he's got to learn he can't play like this.
On the power play, I'm in a really good position, ... Guys are giving me the puck for the one-timer and I get good chances. I played the point back when I played in Russia. It's a really good spot, you know. I have lots of shots and lots of chances. I practice a lot at it and it's working. The goals are coming and the wins are coming.
It's my job to score goals, ... I love to score here at Philips Arena. The fans go crazy, everybody is happy. I like it.
The most important thing is for us to win, ... We've got a really good chance to make the playoffs this year, so that's the biggest challenge for us.
We've got a lot of great players - experienced guys. They know how to play hard and how to win, so we can make this final push and be in the playoffs for the first time.
I don't care about [being a star]. The most important thing for me now is just do my job.
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.
This was one game, ... We should just forget about it tonight, watch the video tomorrow, work hard and fix the problems and find our game.