Kovalev Not Returning to Montreal

According to TSN, general manager Bob Gainey announced that winger Alex Kovalev will not return to the Montreal Canadiens next season.  A contract agreement was rumored last week, but was quickly dismissed by Kovalev’s agent. Gainey said an offer was made to Kovalev, but he took to long to decide so Montreal used their free agency money to sign winger Mike Cammalleri, winger Brian Gionta, and defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gil.  

The team also traded for center Scott Gomez prior to the start of free agency.  The Canadiens are currently $9 million under the salary cap, but still have their restricted free agents to re-sign.  The team will have a brand new top-6 after losing Kovalev, winger Alex Tanguay, and their captain Saku Koivu to free agency. 

Kovalev spent five seasons in Montreal; he was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round of the 1991 draft.