Ilya Kovalchuk has spent the past five seasons in Russia's KHL. (AP file photo)

One of hockey’s most prolific offensive players of the past two decades is returning to the NHL next season at age 35.

After five seasons with SKA St. Petersburg in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, Ilya Kovalchuk is returning to North America. He is a free agent and can sign on July 1.

Kovalchuk racked up 417 goals and 816 points in 816 NHL games from 2001 to 2013 with the Atlanta Thrashers and New Jersey Devils. He signed an unprecedented 17-year, $102 million contract with New Jersey in 2010 but retired from the NHL three years later and returned to Russia.

The Devils no longer own his rights.

Will the Detroit Red Wings pursue Kovalchuk? That was among the questions on the minds of MLive readers.

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Ilya Kovalchuk last played in the NHL in 2013 with New Jersey. (AP file photo)

Does adding 35-year-old make sense for Red Wings?

Q: Will the Wings make a pitch for Kovalchuk? I know it doesn't fit their rebuilding blueprint, but they need offense and he can provide it and not cost anything in return. – Igor

A: The Red Wings have had interest in Kovalchuk in the past and it wouldn't surprise me if they were among the eight or so unidentified teams, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, that have had discussions with his agent.

But Kovalchuk, in an interview with Dreger, said his priority is to win a Stanley Cup (he reached the playoffs only three times during his NHL career). I doubt he’d want to come to a rebuilding team since he’ll have other options.

From the Red Wings’ standpoint, despite their need for offense, they are better off not bringing in a high-priced older player on a multi-year deal. Give 2017 top pick Michael Rasmussen an opportunity (which they plan to do) and provide more growth opportunities for young wingers like Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou, with more ice time and prominent roles on the power play.

If the Red Wings were to sign an older free-agent forward, Thomas Vanek is a more realistic possibility on a one-year deal, someone who’d be moved at the trade deadline if they’re out of the playoff picture.

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Winger Filip Zadina is expected to be selected second or third in the draft. (AP file photo)

Red Wings will try to move up in draft

Q: Do the Wings plan to look for a lot of trade-up opportunities at the draft and use extra picks to move up? – Tom

A: They will try. They would like to move up to No. 3 for a shot at right wing Filip Zadina or No. 4 or 5 to get defenseman Evan Bouchard. If they do trade up or down it would happen during the draft on June 21 and of course depend on what transpires ahead of them.

What would it take to move up? At minimum, in addition to swapping the No. 6 pick, the Red Wings surely would need to relinquish their other first-round selection (30 or 31, depending on whether Vegas wins the Stanley Cup) or one of their second-round picks (No. 33 or 36).

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Don't expect Svechnikov brothers on same team

Q: What's your take on the possibility of the Wings trading up for the No. 2 pick? Carolina, while very lucky to move up so far, is not exactly hurting for scoring wingers or defensemen, which pretty much sums up the balance of the top selections. While new GM (Don Waddell) could select any of the remaining prospects after (Rasmus) Dahlin at No. 2 and be happy, do you think the Wings could entice the Canes to trade down?

What I'm getting at is would the Wings be interested in getting the Svechnikov brothers (Evgeny and Andrei) together? For me, the Wings should be focused on taking Evan Bouchard with their pick at No. 6. But what if the Wings learn that someone ahead of them is definitely taking Bouchard? I don't think the Wings want to add another diminutive defenseman like (Quinn) Hughes or (Adam) Boqvist to a prospect pool that already has many of the same kind of players. I can see a scenario where the Wings lose out on (Andrei) Svechnikov, (Brady) Tkachuk, Bouchard and Zadina and be left with nothing but smurf rearguards and Oliver Wahlstrom. Hughes and Boqvist might turn out to be amazing pros, but I believe that you can have too many of those types. – Matt

A: I doubt Carolina will trade the No. 2 pick. At least, this is what Waddell told NHL.com at last week's Scouting Combine: "I've gotten a lot of calls and what I've told teams is, we're keeping the pick. If you want to present something to me, it's my role as general manager to listen to what you have to say. If someone wants to put a package together that we can't say no to, assets for the organization and where we're headed, we would look at it, but it's going to be very difficult for somebody to get that pick from us."

In any event, I’m hearing the Red Wings prefer Zadina over Svechnikov.

I think you’re right about the Red Wings not being as high on Hughes and Boqvist – not because they don’t think they will be good players, but because they have enough smaller (Joe Hicketts, Vili Saarijarvi) or average-sized defensemen (Filip Hronek, Dennis Cholowski) in their system.

They want bigger defensemen, preferably right-shooters. Bouchard (6-2, 193) and Noah Dobson (6-3, 180) fit those qualifications.

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Vili Saarijarvi had a tough adjustment his first season in Grand Rapids. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

How far away are Saarijarvi, Hicketts?

Q: Who do the Wings regard more highly -- Hicketts or Saarijarvi? Saarijarvi couldn't stick with Grand Rapids last year but they seem to like him. Not sure if that changed after last year or was it a numbers game. Hicketts seemed to plateau last year. -- Tom

A: Saarijarvi seems to have more offensive upside. He struggled his first pro season (no goals, 11 assists in 42 games with Grand Rapids), but that's not uncommon, especially for a defenseman.

Hicketts took a step back his second pro season, with three goals, 12 points and a minus-10 rating (he had seven goals, 34 points and a plus-15 rating in 2016-17). But the Red Wings like his heart and determination and he acquitted himself well during a five-game stint (three assists, plus-5).

Hicketts, who is waiver-exempt for one more season, will compete with Hronek for a roster spot in training camp. Saarijarvi will probably spend the next two seasons in Grand Rapids.

If you have a Red Wings-related question, email me at akhan1@mlive.com.

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