Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Kovalchuk mepụtara na usoro ntorobịa nke Spartak Moscow, sonye na ndị otu okenye ha na Vysshaya Liga na 1999. Mgbe oge abụọ na Spartak gasịrị, ọ sonyeere Atlanta Thrashers nke NHL, onye họọrọ ya nke mbụ n'ozuzu na
2001 NHL Entry Draft. Mgbe oge asatọ na Thrashers, a gbanwere ya na New Jersey Devils na 2010, onye ya na ya bịanyere aka na nkwekọrịta afọ 15, $ 100 nde, mgbe afọ 17 gasịrị, NHL jụrụ nkwekọrịta $ 102 nde. N'afọ 2013, ọ hapụrụ NHL ịlaghachi Russia, sonye na SKA Saint Petersburg, ebe ọ na-egwuri egwu maka oge ise tupu ọ laghachi na NHL na 2018.