Blue Jackets have spoken with Kovalchuk's agent

The Columbus Blue Jackets have their eyes on a former NHL superstar, having spoken with Ilya Kovalchuk's agent, Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson told Sportsnet's John Shannon on Tuesday.

Kovalchuk, 34, has spent the past four years in the KHL, notching 78 points in 68 games last season with St. Petersburg SKA.

The Russian sniper has expressed interest in returning to North America, but his path forward isn't so simple. Kovalchuk left the NHL in 2013, but in doing so walked away from a contract with the New Jersey Devils that was not set to expire until 2025.

While that agreement was eventually terminated, the NHL has since ruled that the Devils hold Kovalchuk's rights until he turns 35.

So, if Kovalchuk is to make an NHL comeback, he would need to sign with New Jersey first, who would ostensibly proceed to trade him elsewhere. Earlier this month, Devils general manager Ray Shero appeared open to facilitating the superstar's return.

Kovalchuk has played 816 games in the NHL with the Devils and Atlanta Thrashers, registering 417 goals and 399 assists.