Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Ovechkin face off in the KHL.

Welcome back to Swarm it Up regular programming! Unfortunately, with the lockout now upon us and the loss of regular season games imminently looming on the horizon, relevant Devils news bits are few and far between.

However, I will take the chance to update on those players who have been sent down to the AHL or chosen to play in European or Russian leagues until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached. Whenever, of course, that may be. Let’s hope for an agreement before our regular season opener.

Today’s update: Ilya Kovalchuk.

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Ilya Kovalchuk, current assistant captain and strong candidate for next captain of the Devils, has signed a temporary contract with SKA Saint Petersburg. He has been given the C there and will skate under his number 17. In his debut, he helped the team to a win over Dynamo Moscow and Alexander Ovechkin with a 3-1 victory (game report located here). Kovalchuk seems to have recovered from whatever injuries, likely lower-back, troubled him during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

While you can still watch Kovy in action in the KHL, an interesting fact. According to Brian Costello of The Hockey News, Kovalchuk will lose approximately $846,153 during the first pay period out of the thirteen that make up an NHL season. That’s a pretty sizable salary loss.

* Here’s Kovy’s first practice with SKA.

* Here’s what appears to be an impressively punny Kovalchuk wallpaper.

* For those curious, Kovalchuk’s SKA jersey retails for 2400 rubles (about $80 USD).

You can learn more about the KHL at en.khl.ru.