Canadiens sign Kovalchuk to 1-year, 2-way deal

The Montreal Canadiens have inked veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk to a one-year, two-way contract, the club announced Friday.

It'll pay him $700,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 in the AHL.

The Los Angeles Kings terminated his previous deal last month after holding him out of the lineup since Nov. 9.

Kovalchuk managed only three goals and nine points in 17 games with the Kings this season.

The 36-year-old greatly underachieved after returning from the KHL and signing a three-year, $18.75-million pact with the Kings on July 1, 2018. He collected 16 goals and 34 points across 64 contests last season.

Montreal's forward group has been plagued by injuries. The club was already missing Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, and Joel Armia before Brendan Gallagher suffered a concussion Tuesday night.