NHL News: 3-Time All-Star Officially Retires from Hockey

He was a three-time All-Star and led the NHL in goals, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy, in 2004. But his heady days as a 50-goal scorer were almost 20 years ago now, and Ilya Kovalchuk hasn't played in the NHL since 2020, toiling in Russia last season as a 40-year-old. Now, a month away from his 42nd birthday, he's officially hanging up the skates, retiring from hockey.

Ilya Kovalchuk has announced his retirement from professional hockey

2001 1st Overall Pick
🏒443 Goals, 876 Points in #NHL
🏒174 Goals, 404 Points in #KHL

📱Kovy Highlight Reel: pic.twitter.com/56l6uBFU4J
— BetAlytics (@BetalyticsInc) March 14, 2025

The former No. 1 overall pick (2001) was an Atlanta Thrashers legend for eight years, earning all three of his All-Star nods with them, and topping the 50-goal mark twice and the 40-goal mark four other times.

His true impact time in the NHL ended in 2013, after which he went home to play in the KHL for St. Petersburg SKA for five years and won two titles. He came back to the NHL in 2018 but was just a shell of himself for a couple of seasons.

Kovalchuk finished his NHL career with 443 goals and 876 points in 926 games. He also played with the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals.