The LA Kings signed forward Andreas Athanasiou to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, according to Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake.

Athanasiou split last season between the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old forward started the season with the Red Wings, posting 24 points in 46 games. He was traded at the deadline to the Oilers where he posted two points in nine games before the season was cut short. He went scoreless in four games with Edmonton during the postseason.

Ilya Kovalchuk is returning to Russia's Kontinental Hockey League after signing a two-year contract with Avangard Omsk, the league announced Saturday.

Kovalchuk, 37, played for three NHL teams during the 2019-20 season. He started the campaign with the Los Angeles Kings before they waived him and his $18.25 million contract in December. He landed with the Montreal Canadiens in January on a veteran's league minimum of $700,000.

Several NHL teams are exploring the possibility of playing some 2020-21 home games in outdoor venues and in front of fans if local COVID-19 restrictions on mass gatherings would allow for them, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

The Boston Bruins confirmed they're exploring home games at Fenway Park, which has hosted NHL and NCAA games in the past.