Report: Kovalchuk Close To Signing With LA Kings

The New York Post is reporting that Ilya Kovalchuk is close to signing with the Los Angeles Kings.

From that New York Post article:

Free agent Ilya Kovalchuk is close to signing a contract with the Los Angeles Kings, Sportsnet Canada reports.

Analyst Nick Kypreos wrote on Twitter, “A big swing in the Ilya/Kings talks. Major stumbling blocks have been rectified. A source now described it to me as ‘close but not done.’”

Kovalchuk visited the Kings earlier this week but left without a deal, which kept the Devils in the running to re-sign the left wing.

Honestly, I can’t say that I am surprised if this does happen, but please take this news with a grain of salt. The Kovalchuk sweepstakes have gotten so out of control that you really can’t believe anything that you hear until it is finished.

Regardless, the expectations are that the Kings were going to land Kovalchuk, and this seems to point in that direction.

Kovalchuk would add some heavy artillery to the Kings, and make them a sexy pick for next year's Cup contenders. In joining the Kings he would also leave the Devils wondering what more they could have done to nab the superstar winger.

More when anything becomes official.