Ilya Kovalchuk racks up shocking number of traffic tickets after NHL exit

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 14, 2025, 04:30 IST

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Ilya Kovalchuk lived a sensational hockey life and accumulated millions. But since he retired, he's accumulated nearly 200 traffic tickets in 18 months. His brazen speeding and disregard for road signs are causing alarm. The fans now question the former superstar whether he's driving in the wrong direction both on the ice and in real life.

Ilya Kovalchuk racks up shocking number of traffic tickets after NHL exit (Image Source: Getty Images)

Ilya Kovalchuk was a name that every household throughout the NHL knew, just as well for his shot as his goal-tallying potential. Picked first overall at the 2001 NHL Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he appeared nearly a thousand times. He tallied 876 points over his career and played for the likes of Atlanta, New Jersey, Montreal, and Washington. He returned to the NHL after the 2019-20 season and stayed in Russia for the KHL till last year.

Ilya Kovalchuk draws more attention for speeding than scoring these days

Ilya Kovalchuk earned over $100 million while playing in the NHL. But now he's in the news for something entirely different. According to a recent report, over the last year and a half, he has been issued nearly 200 traffic tickets in Russia. These consist of more than 100 speeding tickets, 24 instances of parking illegally, and 45 instances of violating other traffic laws such as disregarding road signs.

These are no small mistakes. It's questionable why Ilya Kovalchuk continues to disregard traffic laws or why he remains allowed to drive. With so many tickets piling up, individuals wonder how much of his hockey fortune goes into mere tickets.

Kovalchuk's off-field problems raise brows

It's shocking to find a famous retired athlete finding himself in so much trouble in his life after sports. Ilya Kovalchuk was a fan favorite both in the NHL and the KHL. Nowadays, some of those fans are dismayed to read headlines about his driving habits instead of his brilliant hockey career. If he goes on in this vein, he might lose his driver's license and maybe even a good chunk of his finances.Also Read: Unexpected Standouts Driving Momentum In Stanley Cup Second Round

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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