The Montreal Canadiens were floundering in early January but still had hopes for a playoff berth. They looked good at times in the first half of the 2019-20 season, but injuries took their toll and the team was fading fast.
They needed a boost, but also were too far from Stanley Cup contending status to do anything drastic.
So, general manager Marc Bergevin signed unrestricted free agent Ilya Kovalchuk, hoping for a flash of brilliance from a former superstar.
When Kovalchuk first arrived in Montreal, he got off to a great start. He would score six goals and 12 points in his first 15 games with the Habs.