Ilya Kovalchuk (2024)

Ilya Kovalchuk

Hockey Fortune:$

105,679,024

Description

Ilya Kovalchuk’s net worth / earnings / salary history: Earned US $105,679,024 (US $142,904,666 in today's dollars), ranking #18 in NHL / hockey career earnings.

Country of birth: Russia
Position: F
NHL Draft:

Year: 2001
Round #1
Overall Pick: 1
By: Atlanta Thrashers

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Info about the franchise value evolution and ownership history of NHL/hockey teams.

Salary History - Ilya Kovalchuk All amounts in US$ unless otherwise noted.
Season	Earnings (US$)	In today's US$	Rank
2001-02	$1,130,000	$1,933,004	302
2002-03	$1,130,000	$1,902,807	337
Does not include signing bonuses, performance bonuses and deferred payments.
Source(s): La Presse
2003-04	$1,130,000	$1,860,606	353
2004-05	NHL lockout year: Season cancelled - no NHL salary paid.
2004-05	$3,000,000	$4,810,991	3
With Kazan Ak-Bars of the Russian Superleague to play for the whole season.
Source(s): Sports Illustrated
2005-06	$6,500,000	$10,081,673	13
2006-07	$5,000,000	$7,512,773	35
Source(s): NHLPA
2007-08	$5,500,000	$8,034,870	38
Source(s): NHLPA
2008-09	$7,500,000	$10,551,556	14
Source(s): NHLPA
2009-10	$7,500,000	$10,588,934	14
Source(s): NHLPA
2010-11	$6,000,000	$8,334,403	48
In mid-July 2010, as a free agent, signed a 17-year contract with the New Jersey Devils for $102M: $6M in 2010-11 and 2011-12; $11.5M per year from 2012-13 to 2016-2017; $10.5M in 2017-18; $8.5M in 2018-19; $6.5M in 2019-20; $3.5M in 2020-21; $750,000 in 2021-22; and $550,000 per season from 2022-23 to 2026-27. The agreement was rejected by the NHL based on circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The NHL's rejection was subsequently upheld in arbitration after the NHLPA filed a grievance on Kovalchuk's behalf. On September 4, 2010, as a free agent, signed a 15-year contract with the New Jersey Devils for $100M ($90M in the first ten years and $10M in the last five years.)
Source(s): NHLPA / NHL / ESPN
2011-12	$6,000,000	$8,079,488	52
Source(s): NHLPA
2012-13	$6,439,024	$8,495,059	11
Because of the lockout, his NHL salary of $11,000,000 was prorated for the 48-game season.
Voluntarily retired from the NHL after the 2012-13 season, forfeiting the 12 years and $77 million remaining on his contract with the New Jersey Devils.
Source(s): NHLPA / Forbes
2013-14	$10,300,000	$13,392,299	6
With St. Petersburg SKA in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Might have also earned bonuses. According to Forbes, he signed a 4-year agreement with SKA St. Petersburg for $4.4 million per season. According to SovSport, he earned between $15M and $20M/year, some of it possibly paid off book to remain under the KHL salary cap.
Source(s): Sports.ru
2014-15	$4,400,000	$5,629,636	160
With SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). According to SovSport, he earned between $15M and $20M/year, some of it possibly paid off book to remain under the KHL salary cap.
Source(s): Forbes
2015-16	$4,400,000	$5,622,985	181
With SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). According to SovSport, he earned between $15M and $20M/year, some of it possibly paid off book to remain under the KHL salary cap.
Source(s): Forbes
2016-17	$5,500,000	$6,941,169	114
Earned 330 million rubles as base salary with the St. Petersburg SKA in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Based on the 2016 exchange rate of 60 rubles per $. According to Forbes, he earned $4.4M. According to SovSport, he earned between $15M and $20M/year, some of it possibly paid off book to remain under the KHL salary cap.
Source(s): Russian sports news site Sportfakt
2017-18	$5,500,000	$6,796,467	128
With SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Estimated minimum salary based on documented 2016-17 salary.
Source(s): HockeyZonePlus
2018-19	$8,500,000	$10,253,076	28
July 1, 2018: Signed 3-year deal with Los Angeles for $18.75M
Source(s): NHLPA / Los Angeles Times
2019-20	$6,000,000	$7,108,660	104
Base salary of $700,000 plus $2.65M bonus paid on September 15, 2019 and $2.65M bonus paid on December 15, 2019 by the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings terminated his contract in mid-December 2019 and he became a free agent. In early January 2020, he signed a two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens for $700,000 in the NHL and $70,000 in the AHL. On February 23, 2020, he was traded to Washington. As part of the deal, the Canadiens accepted to pay 50% of his remaining salary, meaning that the Capitals only paid approximately $78,000 in salary for Kovalchuk to play until the end of the season and the playoffs.
Source(s): NHLPA / Los Angeles Times / Pierre LeBrun / Montreal Gazette
2020-21	$4,250,000	$4,974,208	184
Source(s): NHLPA
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHL played a 56-game season instead of 82. Base salaries were not pro-rated but 10% of $4,250,000 was deferred and payable in three yearly payments, starting in October 2022, without interests. Escrow for the season was increased to 20% and performance bonuses were pro-rated (amounts and targets to reach).
Career Total: US $105,679,024 (In today's dollars: US $142,904,666) NHL Rank: 18 (In today's dollars: 17)