Kovalev Returns to Pittsburgh

Without superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, the Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled to find offensive production. Earlier this week, Penguins GM Ray Shero traded offensive defensemen Alex Goligoski for forward James Neal and defender Matt Niskanen. The acquisition of Neal, who scored 131 points in 215 career games, should help compensate for the drop in offensive production. 


Today, Shero added another piece that the franchise hopes can reignite their attack: Alexei Kovalev. Kovalev first joined the Penguins just 14 games into the 1998-99 season in a five-player trade with the New York Rangers. The Penguins traded Kovalev back to the Rangers in 2003 in an eight-player deal to reduce salary. Kovalev scored 1,017 points in his career and 347 in five partial seasons with the Penguins. He has 14 goals and 13 assists in 54 games with the Ottawa Senators this season. The Senators acquired a conditional seventh round draft pick in the deal. 

- Jeff Laboon