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.