Ilya Kovalchuk returns to KHL club for 2nd round of playoffs

After being suspended by SKA St. Petersburg during the first round of the KHL playoffs, former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk made a surprise return to the club Monday.

The winger, who was stripped of his captaincy, was back on the ice for the opening game of the team's second-round series against Dynamo Moscow.

It was reported that SKA offered Kovalchuk $1 million to terminate his contract, and buyout discussions are still ongoing, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Reports of turmoil between the player and club sparked rumors the forward would eye a return to the NHL.

After leaving his team down 1-0 in its opening-round series, St. Petersburg won its next four games without last year's Gagarin Cup MVP to advance to Round 2.

Kovalchuk retired from the NHL in 2013 with 12 years remaining on his contract with the New Jersey Devils, leaving $77 million on the table. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has noted that all 30 teams must unanimously agree to allow Kovalchuk to return to the league if he tries to come back within a year of playing professionally elsewhere. Should he sit out a full calendar year, he'll require only the Devils' consent.