Three free agents still available the Philadelphia Flyers should pursue

2. F Ilya Kovalchuk

2020 Team: Los Angeles Kings/Montreal Canadians/Washington Capitals

2020 Cap Hit: $700,000

Yes that is correct, we are once again circling back to the idea that Ilya Kovalchuk could make a lot of sense for the Philadelphia Flyers this upcoming season. While this is a bit of a controversial idea and it may not be something that many people would agree with, he could be an absolute steal of a signing if executed correctly.

Now at 37 years of age, we are certainly in the twilight of Kovy’s career. Gone are the days of scoring 50 goals (which he has done twice in his career,) as are the days of scoring 40 goals (which he has done four additional times.) No, that is not the player the Philadelphia Flyers would be getting. Let’s be real, if Kovalchuk was still that player, there would be no reason he would still be available at this time. However, that does not mean he is useless and would be unable to help the orange and black.

While he may not be the goal scorer he once was, Kovalchuk still possesses offensive and goal scoring ability. Since his return from the KHL at the start of the 2018-2019 season, Kovy has appeared in exactly 100 NHL games, scoring 26 goals and adding 34 assists for a grand total of 60 points. Yes, it is a far cry from his production back in his younger days, but it is still decent production nonetheless.

Yes, he did play on three separate teams this past season, but this is because he was sought after. He was waived by the Los Angeles Kings back in December of 2019, before signing with the Canadians in the beginning of January for $700,000. He displayed a certain “chip” on his shoulder, and looked incredibly motivated. This led to him being dealt to a contender at the deadline, finding himself on the Washington Capitals.

While his time in Washington was brief due to COVID-19, it is hard to judge what he accomplished on the ice. In total he appeared in 15 games (8 playoffs, 7 regular season) and only amassed five points (one goal, four assists.) Still, overall he has shown the ability to contribute offensively.

This is where the Philadelphia Flyers come into the mix. With a need to add to their bottom six forward group and the need to address their putrid Power Play unit; adding Kovalchuk on a one-year deal in the ball park of $1 million dollars could be an absolute bargain. And hey with a deal that cheap, if it doesn’t work out, the Flyers could just cut bait and waive him for essentially nothing. So, what exactly do they have to lose?

Whatever team does decide to give Ilya Kovalchuk another chance could potentially be making an incredibly sneak addition.