Kings inform Ilya Kovalchuk he will sit for foreseeable future

Los Angeles Kings left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, of Russia, waits during a television timeout during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in Newark, N.J. (Julio Cortez/AP)

The Los Angeles Kings have informed winger Ilya Kovalchuk that he will be out of their lineup for the foreseeable future, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Friedman reports that Kovalchuk is welcome to practice with the team, but will not play.

Kovalchuk, 36, has nine points in 17 games this season, and is averaging a career-low 15:25 minutes per game.

The former first-overall pick had 34 points in 64 games in 2018-19 as he returned to the NHL after five campaigns in the KHL.

He has collected 859 points in 897 NHL career games also spent with the New Jersey Devils and Atlanta Thrashers.

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