NHL 2013 Rumors: Kovalchuk to Stay in Russia For All-Star Game; Will He Return to the NHL?

Even though the NHL Lockout has ended, the league continues to have some major problems with some of its players.

When the lockout came into effect, a number of players fled to the Russian hockey League (KHL) to continue playing. The NHL and KHL made a formal agreement that the Russian league would honor all NHL contracts and would release all players when the lockout came to an end. According to numerous reports, however, the KHL is doing everything possible to keep players in Russia and there are two major cases that are making headlines. Lubomir Visnovsky of the NY Islanders has already announced that he is remaining in Slovakia to finish out the 2012-13 season.

However the bigger problem is Ilya Kovalchuk of the NJ Devils. Two years ago, the Russian star signed a 15-year, $100 million contract. He has played two of those years but it seems that he is remaining in native Russia for now. Since the CBA has not been formally signed, teams are not allowed to ask players back. However, most have already made the return but Kovalchuk is still playing for his Russian club and is listed as the only NHL player to play in the KHL All-Star game.

According to an interview by Pavel Lysenkov of Sovietsky Sport with Vladimir Shalaev of the KHL, "The CBA will not be signed until Sunday... So Kovalchuk (has) no employment relationship with the NHL, and he is going to Chelyabinsk. ...We are disappointed that all the other NHL stars were quick to go to North America. ... Will Kovalchuk play in the KHL till the end of this season? Do not hurry up. Wait till Sunday..."

Kovalchuk will likely return to the Devils in time for the Jan. 13 training camp, but the action continues to create a sense of insecurity with the NHL employment situation.