Source: Russia Not Offering Kovalchuk $14 Million ...Yet

Are the services of any hockey player worth $14 million a year? There's a chance we could find out in the next month.

A highly reliable source tells NHL FanHouse that the report in Sport Express of Ilya Kovalchuk being offered the equivalent of $14 million a year by the KHL team in St. Petersburg is false. However, the source added that the Russian newspaper report does reflect the level of interest KHL teams have in Kovalchuk, who has scored 40 or more goals in his last six seasons in the NHL.

The 27-year-old Kovalchuk is almost certainly destined for unrestricted free agency in the NHL on July 1. Acquired by New Jersey in February from the Atlanta Thrashers for a package of two young players, a top prospect and a No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, Kovalchuk had 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 27 regular season games for the Devils.

In the team's first round loss to eventual Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia, Kovalchuk had two goals and four assists in the five-game series. Although he was the team's leading scorer and arguably the Devils' best player in the series, New Jersey's failure to advance past the first round limited the chances of Kovalchuk's return. With plenty of good seats available at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Devils would like to sign the left wing for his ability and marketability. However, the team's willingness to spend long-term dollars for a star -- especially with home-grown goal-scorer Zach Parise entering the last year of his contract -- is very much in question.

Although European teams do not have to wait until July 1 to sign free agents, Kovalchuk is not expected to sign a contract with a KHL team before reviewing offers from NHL teams. By all accounts, his preference is to stay in the NHL -- the league he calls "the best in the world" -- if the money is right.

Kovalchuk will likely receive a few offers from NHL teams in the range of $7-9 million per year. He should also be able to negotiate a much longer term than the three years reported to be offered in the KHL. Just hitting his prime at age 27, the superstar left wing could be extended an offer of 10 years by a team without fear of lack of return on investment. Since the lockout, the first overall pick of 2001 has scored 52, 42, 52, 43 and 41 goals in the last five years -- all but the last two months of last season playing for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Time will tell if Kovalchuk really has $14 million a year waiting for him back home in Russia. No matter what, he's going to have quite a decision to make the first week in July. Even before turning down $100 million from the Thrashers, Kovalchuk has come off as a not-always-about-the-money kind of guy. Looks like we're going to find out soon enough.