The New York Islanders’ relationship with Jan Kovar was a short one as the 28-year-old center was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination on Wednesday.
On July 9, the New York Islanders signed KHL veteran Jan Kovar to a low-risk/high-reward one-year deal reportedly worth $2 million.
Just over three months later, Kovar is headed out the door and assumingly back to play overseas after he was placed on unconditional waivers on Wednesday afternoon by the Isles.
#Isles Transaction: Jan Kovar has been placed on unconditional waivers.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 10, 2018
Part of what brought Kovar to Long Island was his numbers.
Playing the last five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Magnitogorsk Metallurg, Kovar scored 97 goals and 286 points in 285 games.
The 28-year-old Czech Republic-born center also represented his country at the Olympic Games this past winter, scoring three goals and five points in six games.
Coming into the season, Kovar was expected to provide the Isles with depth, slotting in as the team’s third line center.
During the preseason, Kovar managed one goal and an assist in four games. In addition to two points in four games, Kovar also registered 10 shots on goal and won 42.9 percent of his recorded faceoffs.
Being waiver exempt, Kovar was one of the final cuts with defenseman Devon Toews being the other. However, unlike Toews, Kovar didn’t report to the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, Kovar was “taking some time to figure out his next move” and now, he has apparently figured out what that next move is/will be.
For now, the New York Islanders are doing quite alright without Kovar as the team has begun their 2018-19 campaign with a 2-1-0 record. Time will tell if losing Kovar will hurt.
