The Kontinental Hockey League’s Shanghai Dragons named Ilya Kovalchuk president on Tuesday.
The position is a newly created role under the team’s updated management structure.
The Shanghai Dragons have announced changes to the club’s organizational structure. A new position of President has been introduced, with Ilya Kovalchuk appointed to the role.
— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) April 21, 2026
📰 Read more: https://t.co/Gvf0Do9i0Q pic.twitter.com/91mTmCwfbR
The 43-year-old Kovalchuk ended his playing career after the 2023-2024 season when he skated in 20 games for Spartak Moscow.
The Dragons played their first campaign this past season after relocating from Kunlun. The team finished in sixth place in the Tarasov Division and missed the playoffs. The Dragons were coached by former Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love, who was fired last fall after a team investigation. He replaced Jack Adams Trophy winner Gerard Gallant, who stepped down in January over health issues.
A number of former NHL players suited up for the Dragons this season, including Nick Merkley, Kevin Lebanc, Ben Harpur, Adam Clendening and Alexander Burmistrov.
Kovalchuk spent 13 seasons in the NHL over two stints with the Atlanta Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens and Capitals. He appeared in 926 games, scoring 443 goals and 433 assists. A three-time All-Star, Kovalchuk won the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2004, leading the league in goals, along with Jarome Iginla and Steven Stakmos, with 41.
Internationally, Kovalchuk represented Russia on numerous occasions, winning back-to-back gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 IIHF World Championships and a gold medal as part of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the Winter Olympics in 2018.
