Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk (lang-ru????? ??????????? ??????????, IPA-ru??l?ja k?v?l??t?ukIPA; born April 15, 1983) is a Russian (Russians) professional ice hockey left winger (Winger (ice hockey)), who is currently an unrestricted free agent in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career in 2001-02 (2001-02 NHL season) with the team and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as league rookie-of-the-year. He is a three-time NHL All-Star (NHL All-Star Game) and won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the leagues leading goal-scorer in 2004 (2003-04 NHL season) in a three-way tie with Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash. After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the Devils in 2010.

Internationally, Kovalchuk has played for Russia (Russia national mens ice hockey team) in the IIHF World U18 Championships, World Junior Championships (World Junior Ice Hockey Championships), World Championships (World Ice Hockey Championships), World Cup (World Cup of Hockey) and Winter Olympics (Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics), highlighted by back-to-back gold medals in the 2008 (2008 IIHF World Championships) and 2009 World Championships (2009 IIHF World Championship).