LA Kings inform Ilya Kovalchuk he's done with the team

Ilya Kovalchuk has been taken out of the LA Kings lineup and that's not going to change anytime soon. The Kings have informed the veteran he won't be playing for the foreseeable future, although he is welcome to practice with the club, if he chooses.

There is word this afternoon that LA has informed Ilya Kovalchuk he will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. He is welcome to practice with the club, but he will not be playing. Obviously, more details as they occur.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 12, 2019

Surprising turn of events on the west coast, as Kovalchuk's bonus is paid on December 15th. The Kings feel they currently have better options, and they want the league to know, they have a month to bring their best offer to the table.

A reminder as reported before that Kovalchuk’s final signing bonus money is payable Dec. 15 after which he’s only collecting on his $700k salary for the rest of the season. He does, however, have a $4.25 M salary on the books for next season... if he’s still in the NHL https://t.co/DGEia1juWX

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 12, 2019

What NHL team lands the one-time superstar sniper? Or perhaps the Kings have now pushed Kovalchuk to decide to go back home to Russia. Seems possible.