Ilya Kovalchuk is nearing a decision on where he'll play in 2010-11.
"Ilya Kovalchuk choices have been narrowed down, details to be finalized but no announcement tonight," Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, announced via Twitter Monday night.
Grossman's update came after tweeting Monday morning that this was the day Kovalchuk would make his decision. Kovalchuk's options have been narrowed down to the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders or SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.
Earlier Monday, the New York Post reported the Devils were on the verge of signing Kovalchuk to a six-year, $60 million deal, but several calls by ESPN.com to Grossman, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and Islanders GM Garth Snow were not returned. KHL president Alexander Medvedev, via a spokesman, declined to comment, as well.
On Tuesday, when contacted by ESPN.com, Lamoriello said, "Everything is status quo, that's all I'm going to say."
The Los Angeles Kings pulled out of the race Sunday and a source said Monday night that under no circumstance would they get back into talks about the free-agent forward at this point.
They have "completely moved on," the source said.
Pierre LeBrun covers the NHL for ESPN.com.