Alexei Kovalev has been rather quiet, at least in North America, since leaving the NHL in 2013.
During a recent charity event at the Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur in Quebec, however, the former NHL star suggested he isn’t necessarily a fan of how the game has changed since he last played in the league.
Although the 1992 Olympic gold medallist still trains and plays frequently, Kovalev admitted he doesn’t watch much NHL hockey these days because he doesn’t like how the game has evolved, according to an interview with JF Tremblay of La Presse. The 44-year-old also added that he finds it tough seeing a storied franchise like the Montreal Canadiens struggle and lends his suggestions as to what that franchise needs to do in order to become a legitimate championship contender.
Kovalev spent 19 seasons in the NHL split between the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. The Russian registered 430 goals and 599 assists in 1,316 career regular-season NHL games, adding 100 points in 123 playoff games and won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994.
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