The 35-year-old forward, who last played in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils in 2012-13, can sign with any NHL team. Lamoriello, who joined the Islanders on May 22, was general manager of the Devils when Kovalchuk signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with New Jersey on Sept. 3, 2010.

Ilya Kovalchuk said he wants to return to the NHL so he can win the Stanley Cup, and the forward also praised New York Islanders executive Lou Lamoriello in an interview with TSN published Friday.

"I saw him a few times after that and we talked," Kovalchuk said of Lamoriello. "... He's one of those guys you want to always keep in touch with and ask him for advice. ... He's a great man."

Kovalchuk voluntarily retired from the NHL on July 11, 2013 and signed a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League four days later. The Devils were sold Aug. 15, 2013.

"I thought I could prepare myself better for the Olympics (by leaving the NHL)," Kovalchuk told TSN reporter Darren Dreger. "Growing up it was my dream to win the gold medal [and] with the Games in Sochi (Russia in 2014) ... I think it was win-win for everybody and I really appreciate the way Lou Lamoriello handled the whole situation."

Kovalchuk's agent, JP Barry, has spoken to at least eight NHL teams, the report said, and Barry told The Athletic he expected a decision around the time of the 2018 NHL Draft (June 22-23) or shortly afterward. The reports did not say if the Islanders were one of those teams. Barry and CAA Hockey also is the agent for Islanders captain John Tavares, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Kovalchuk, who with the Devils lost the 2012 Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings in six games, said his priority is to win an NHL championship.

"The NHL is the best league in the world and the Stanley Cup is the toughest thing to win," he said. "I've won the Gagarin Cup twice in the KHL, I know what it takes. But in the NHL there are more regular-season games and all of the best players are playing here, so it's a big challenge. I was here for a long time and I know what it takes to get to the Final, but I've never had a chance to raise the Cup."

He reportedly cannot sign a contract until July 1 but can agree to one before then.

Tweet from @DarrenDreger: Dreger Report: Ilya Kovalchuk says winning the priority in NHL return. https://t.co/MiegVG8ugk

Kovalchuk led the Kontinental Hockey League this season with 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) in 53 games for SKA St. Petersburg. He had 816 points (417 goals, 399 assists) in 816 NHL games with the Devils and Atlanta Thrashers.

"If there was any doubt in my mind, I would never come here. I wouldn't be running around just to collect the money," he said. "I want to be productive and I want to play for the team that trusts in me, and I will give them everything I can to make them proud and successful. I have three or four years left in my tank where I can compete at the highest level ... that's why I'm here and that's why I want to sign in the NHL."

When Kovalchuk left the NHL, his contract was terminated and he was placed on the voluntary retirement list. That allowed the Devils to maintain his NHL rights until he turned 35, which he did April 15. Prior to then, if Kovalchuk wanted to sign with another team he would have needed approval from all 31 NHL teams.

The Devils before this NHL season said no team made them a trade offer in an attempt to sign Kovalchuk.