{"playerId":356,"percentChange":0,"averageDraftPosition":18,"percentOwned":100,"playerRaterSEASON":13.2,"playerRater7DAY":6.5,"mostRecentNews":{"news":"Kovalchuk had five points in the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals, registering a goal in Game 6; he now leads the NHL in playoff scoring.","spin":"Kovalchuk snagged four assists over the last three games as well, as he helped guide the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals. He's been arguably one of the best players in the NHL this postseason and in a position of consideration for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Expect him to be active against the Kings during the Stanley Cup Finals.","date":"Sat May 26"},"fullName":"Ilya Kovalchuk","seasonOutlook":{"outlook":"All of Kovalchuk's numbers were way down last season, his first full season without an Atlanta Thrashers jersey on his back. But a change of uniform can't erase the skills of a player who scored more than 40 goals in six straight seasons. The Devils were in a bad place in 2010-11 and there is no denying Kovalchuk was the poster boy for the situation. But lost in his 60-point, minus-26 fiasco of a season is the fact that he managed to pull himself up part way through the season. Prior to the All-Star break, Kovalchuk had 29 points and a minus-29 in 48 games. After the break, Kovalchuk had 31 points in 33 games and a plus-3 rating. He needs to be forgiven for the first half of last season and returned to the elite standing that he has always carried.","seasonId":2012,"date":"Fri Sep 9"},"playerRater30DAY":11.6,"playerRater15DAY":10.8,"positionRank":3}