Skip to content

It’s official: Alex Kovalev’s NHL career is over

Mar 21, 2013, 7:18 PM EDT

Kovalev AP

Call it a formality if you want, but Alex Kovalev officially retired from the NHL on Thursday, according to the Miami Herald’s George Richards.

While his career ended on a flat note following a 14-game stint with the Florida Panthers, the 40-year-old had a prolific run.

The Russian-born winger won his lone Stanley Cup in 1994 with the New York Rangers. He was a three-time All-Star. His career totals are impressive: 430 goals and 599 assists for 1,029 points in 1,316 regular season games and exactly 100 points in 123 postseason appearances.

(His greatest playoff run came in his first campaign as he scored 21 points in 23 games to help the Rangers win that memorable curse-breaking championship.)

For some, he ranked as an “enigmatic” presence. It’s pretty hard to deny his efforts when you look at the results of his lengthy NHL career, however.

Latest Posts
  1. AHL Bruins blow 3-0 series lead against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

    May 22, 2013, 11:40 PM EDT

    Michael Leighton #49 of the Philadelphia Flyers stops Trent Whitfield #42 of the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Wachovia Center on May 12, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(May 11, 2010 - Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America) Getty Images

    Trent Whitfield has now been on the wrong end of history twice.

  2. Discuss: Penguins overwhelm Senators to take Game 4

    May 22, 2013, 10:15 PM EDT

    OTTAWA, CANADA - MAY 22: James Neal #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates a first period goal with teammates Pascal Dupuis #9, Sidney Crosby #87 and Craig Adams #27 against the Ottawa Senators in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, at Scotiabank Place, on May 22, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) Getty Images

    Ottawa’s strong first period was wasted.

  3. Report: NHLPA director Fehr wants to address issue of fighting

    May 22, 2013, 9:02 PM EDT

    Zac Rinaldo #36 of the Philadelphia Flyers and B.J. Crombeen #19 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fight in the first period on February 5, 2013 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(February 4, 2013 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America) Getty Images

    He’s been reaching out to agents and players.

  4. Video: PHT Extra — Does the NHL have an officiating problem?

    May 22, 2013, 8:20 PM EDT

    Referees

    Mike Halford and Jason Brough tackle that question.

  5. Vigneault: ‘I hope to coach again’ in the NHL

    May 22, 2013, 7:58 PM EDT

    Vancouver Canucks v Boston Bruins - Game Six Getty Images

    He also wants to express his gratitude to the Vancouver Canucks.

  6. Morrow will miss Game 4 tonight

    May 22, 2013, 7:17 PM EDT

    Brenden Morrow AP

    Beau Bennett and Jussi Jokinen have been inserted into the lineup.

  7. Gillis: Vigneault fired because results weren’t there

    May 22, 2013, 7:04 PM EDT

    Mike Gillis AP

    Two swift playoff exits sunk the Canucks’ coach.

  8. Gragnani signs with KHL club

    May 22, 2013, 6:16 PM EDT

    Marc-Andre Gragnani

    His career has gone downhill since being part of the Hodgson trade.

  9. Here’s an (updated) list of available NHL coaching candidates

    May 22, 2013, 5:53 PM EDT

    Alain Vigneault AP

    Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault joins the fray.

  10. DeKeyser holding out hope for playoff return

    May 22, 2013, 5:18 PM EDT

    DannyDeKeyser

    “As long as they keep winning here, that just gives me a better chance for a return with every win.”

  11. Jokinen appears likely to return for Pens

    May 22, 2013, 3:50 PM EDT

    Jussi Jokinen Getty Images

    Pittsburgh’s power play is just 1-for-12 in its past two games.

  12. Canucks win over $800k in lawsuit against Canon

    May 22, 2013, 2:42 PM EDT

    Francesco Aquilini AP

    This should make the Keith Ballard buyout easier to stomach.

  13. Top-ranked Russian prospect Nichushkin will play in North America next year

    May 22, 2013, 1:55 PM EDT

    Nichushkin

    He’s expected to be a top-5 pick at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

FEATURED VIDEO

Top 10 NHL Player Searches
  1. J. Spezza (2034)
  2. S. Crosby (1854)
  3. J. Tootoo (1824)
  4. L. Couture (1747)
  5. R. Torres (1606)
  1. H. Lundqvist (1483)
  2. M. Havlat (1406)
  3. J. Jokinen (1401)
  4. R. Clowe (1371)
  5. D. Seidenberg (1260)