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Ilya Kovalchuk plays at RW with Zach Parise, Travis Zajac during Devils’ first practice

New Jersey Devils v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Four

of the Philadelphia Flyers of the New Jersey Devils in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center on April 20, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jim McIsaac

When a team pays you $100 million, you learn to be flexible.

Ilya Kovalchuk is doing just that, as rumors of the New Jersey Devils playing Zach Parise and Patrik Elias in their typical left wing spots might have some validity - at least so far - now that Kovalchuk is currently playing at right wing. TSN shared the news from the Devils’ first practice.

During the New Jersey Devils’ first practice of the season, new coach John MacLean moved the 27-year-old All-Star from left wing to right wing, playing him with Zach Parise and Travis Zajac on a line that has the potential to score a lot of goals.

Kovalchuk downplayed the move, but he liked the idea of playing with Parise and Zajac. He also noted that forwards in hockey today move around round so much that the positions are sometimes interchangeable.

However they align the forwards, a Parise-Zajac-Kovalchuk line could be outrageously dangerous. A lot can change between training camps and the regular season (not to mention how often NHL coaches tweak their line combos from game to game), but it’s promising that Kovalchuk seems OK with adjusting to the team’s changes.