Ilya Kovalchuk has (another) new home.
The Montreal Canadiens, who acquired the winger in January on a league-minimum contract, traded him to the Washington Capitals for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, both teams confirmed Sunday.
WELCOME KOVY!!!
Washington trades their 3rd Round selection in 2020 for Ilya Kovalchuk#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/NO6iIj8DuW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2020
Montreal will retain half of Kovalchuk’s prorated $700,000 contract. So that means he only will cost the Caps $77,151 against their salary cap, according to Cap Friendly.
#Habs will retain 50% of the $700,000 prorated contract Kovalchuk signed with the Habs.
Meaning that Kovalchuk will only cost the #Capitals $77,151 in cap space.https://t.co/iDrrMiK55o https://t.co/fSxOgZWvd4
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 24, 2020
The 36-year-old got off to a hot start with the Habs, picking up 10 points in his first 12 games. He slowed down a bit recently, though, as Kovalchuk had just one point over his last 10 games.
He now joins a team looking to get back to its second Stanley Cup Final since the 2017-18 season.
The NHL trade deadline is Monday at 3 p.m. ET.
