Kovalchuk to Russia.

With the Thrashers unable to re-sign star left winger Ilya Kovalchuk this far into the National Hockey League season, it's a safe bet that the Russian standout hockey player will go back to Russia following completion of the Atlanta Thrashers' 2009-2010 campaign. Many have speculated that he will be traded to another team before the NHL's trade deadline on March 3, and that is a distinct possibility. But don't count on the Russian forward sticking around the NHL after the season: sources say it is far more likely that he will return to Russia. And while many believe he will be going back to Russia in order to play in the Kontinental Hockey League, that could be as wrong as saying he will re-sign with the Thrashers.

Rumors regarding Kovalchuk's future have flown almost as nimbly as Russia's new fifth-generation fighter, but in truth he will be going home with intent to fly the new Sukhoi T-50. Always fiercely loyal to his country, Kovalchuk frowned when asked if he would to stay in America, where he has lived for several years, and fly an American F-22 Raptor for the United States. "(The T-50 is) like the American F-22, but cooler, because it's Russian," Kovalchuk said.

It is believed by the Chops that this article, written by Ilya Kramnik, was actually authored by Kovalchuk himself, as it is very common for a psudonymn to be the same first name and last initial, Ilya Kovalchuk, and that Kovalchuk was testing the waters for whether or not his knowledge would be accepted into aviation circles in Russia. His athletic ability cannot be questioned, as he has performed to a near-superstar status on dismal Thrashers' rosters for nearly ten years and is always near the top of his club in average time on ice per game. After having exhausted the exhilerations of playing NHL hockey in Atlanta, it should come as no surprise that the Russian sniper often referred to as "the Czar" would seek to become the Czar of the skies in a multirole fighter jet that will be as big an international star as Kovalchuk himself.

The parallels between Kovalchuk and the T-50 are very intriguing, indeed: both are Russian and tend to let their actions speak for themselves; both are expected to play major roles for Russia at the international level for the foreseeable future; and both have been delayed in serving their country to the fullest by facing financial issues, the resolutions of which will bring both Kovalchuk and the T-50 to the foreground in Russia.

In hockey, Kovalchuk has had great success in the international arena, much more so than with the Atlanta Thrashers. And like on international ice, where Kovalchuk has often etched his name on the scoreboard with stealth, agility, or just sheer firepower, he hopes to utilize the stealth, agility, and firepower of the aircraft to win the hearts of Russians in yet another way. But as usual, "Kovy" was humble when asked about how big a role he could play in Russian air power. "I don't care about (being a star). The most important thing for me now is just do my job."

"I'm excited for the challenge. Hopefully, we can do some damage," said Kovalchuk. Indeed, it will be a challenge for Ilya, but it is perhaps the challenge for which he has been waiting his entire life.