The manager of the Russian national hockey team Ilya Kovalchuk answered the question of retirement. His words are quoted by Match TV.
“I didn’t close this door,” said the athlete. Kovalchuk recalled that there are many hockey players who have not officially announced their retirement, for example, Sergei Fedorov or Pavel Bure.
On December 18, it was reported that Kovalchuk was appointed general manager of the Russian national team. However, on October 19, it became known that he took the position of manager of relations with players of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Kovalchuk played in the NHL for several clubs for over ten years. The last team of the forward was Avangard Omsk, with which he won the Gagarin Cup in the spring of 2021.
As part of the national team, Kovalchuk became the Olympic champion in 2018. The athlete also won gold medals at the World Championships in 2008 and 2009.
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