Ilya Kovalchuk will not be heading to the Los Angeles Kings, according to the team's general manager Dean Lombardi, the L.A. Times reported on Sunday.

The Kovalchuk sweepstakes have seen rumours of the Russian sniper heading to L.A., staying with the Devils or going to the Islanders, but four days into the NHL's free agency period, that all remains speculation and the 27-year-old has yet to find a home.

"We took our best shot to meet his needs and the team's," Lombardi said in an email, according to the Times.

Lombardi did not explain why Kovalchuk turned down the Kings' offer and said he didn't know which team the skilled forward was heading to, the Times said.

TSN