New Jersey Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk has jumped to the Kontinental Hockey League, joining SKA St. Petersburg.

The team announced it would make the signing official -- it was confirmed by the player's agent, according to ESPNNewYork.com --Tuesday but Kovalchuk isn't expected to start playing until Sept. 23

Kovalchuk, 29, had 37 goals and 46 assists in 77 regular-season games last season. He added eight goals and 11 assists in 23 playoff games, as the Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup final, losing in six games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Kovalchuk played 53 games with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL during the 2004-05 lockout.

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