Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to remain in the Kontinental Hockey League next season rather than pursue a return to the NHL, agent Jay Grossman told multiple media outlets.

Kovalchuk retired from the NHL in July 2013 -- just three years into his 15-year, $100 million contract with the New Jersey Devils -- to play in his native Russia. But Grossman told Devils general manager Ray Shero in May that his client was open to an NHL return.