NHL

Devils still on Ilya radar

Don’t crown King Kovy quite yet.

A source close to Ilya Kovalchuk today said that the superstar free agent still is mulling offers from a few teams, indicating that at least three teams, including the Devils, remain in the running for the two-time 52-goal scorer.

A source yesterday told The Post the Kings still considered their chances of signing Kovalchuk only 50-50.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello indicated the Devils remain in the hunt.

DEVILS’ 2010-11 SCHEDULE

The 27-year-old Kovalchuk is believed to favor Los Angeles over Newark, all things being equal, but it appeared they weren’t equal for the first two weeks of this bidding. Kovalchuk was said to be ready to rejoin New Jersey on July 5, but is believed to have decided late to give the Kings another chance, then another, and now another. He made a visit to Los Angeles early this week, and it is thought talks took off from there.

The Kings initially were said to be offering $64 million over 12 years, while the Devils are thought to have first bid $60 million over seven years, then $100 million over 17.

That number 17 comes up a lot with Kovalchuk, who wears it in honor of the late Valeri Kharlamov, and wore 71 to captain the Russian national team at the Olympics, since Kharlamov’s 17 retired by the Russian team. Oh, and today is July 17.

Kovalchuk turned down Atlanta offers of $70 million over seven years and $100 million over 12 last winter before he was dealt to the Devils Feb. 4 with Anssi Salmela and a swap of seconds for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick. Kovalchuk made $.75 million last season.

mark.everson@nypost.com