Panthers give Kovalev a shot with one-year deal
The Florida Panthers signed veteran right winger Alexei Kovalev to a one-year deal worth $1 million.
The contract also includes the opportunity earn additional bonuses, TSN reported.
Kovalev, 39, has been out of the NHL since the 2010-11 season when he appeared in 20 games for Pittsburgh and had two goals and five assists.
Last season, he played 22 games in his native Russia for Atlant Moscow Oblast but suffered a knee injury. Since then, Kovalev has spent time rehabbing the knee.
With the Panthers in preparation for the start of the NHL season on Saturday, Kovalev has skated in practice with the second line, the Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
A former first-round draft choice by the New York Rangers, Kovalev also has spent time with the Rangers, Penguins, Montreal and Ottawa in the NHL. In 428 career games, he has 428 goals and 596 assists.
