Alexei Kovalev News

New Ottawa Senator Alexei Kovalev figures to play his first game against his old Montreal Canadiens teammates.

Sens land Kovalev Leafs sign Beauchemin; Canucks nab Raycroft By The Canadian Press Tue.

Did you ever hear the expression "don't poke the bear"? That's the statement I've always used about the Ottawa Senators.

I don't think Alexei Kovalev was very happy getting squeezed out of Montreal, a place he absolutely loved living in, and out of a team he liked playing for.

The Senators' signing of Alexei Kovalev, like the player himself, will be either be a coup or a disaster.

The Ottawa Senators inked free agent veteran forward Alexei Kovalev to a two-year contract on Monday.Kovalev recorded 26 goals and 65 points in 78 regular-season games for the Montreal Canadiens last season, his fourth full season with the franchise.

The Kings seem to have a thing for old Canadiens in #27 sweaters, dating back to the good old days of Rich Chartraw.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey entered this year's free-agency period with more money to spend under the salary cap than any other club - and spend it he did, going on a record-setting spree.

One of the biggest question marks entering free agency was what the Montreal Canadiens would do.

Everyone in the hockey world is aware of this by now, but Rangers GM Glen Sather may have pulled off the fleece of the year.

Since the rule changes that were made for the 2005-06 season, the NHL has placed a larger importance on offense.

More Blogs Photo Gallery BY MIKE BROPHY, Sportsnet.ca As the summer feeding frenzy approaches, columnist Mike Brophy Spector takes a look at the Top 10 free agents in the Eastern Conference.

From now until the end of June, the Kurtenblog will provide a daily look at one of the big prizes from this year's free agent class.

It's already time to start looking ahead to the next fantasy hockey season despite the fact the '08-'09 regular season feels like it just ended.

Flyers left wing Rick MacLeish scored the game's only goal and Bernie Parent, who would win the Conn Smythe as the most valuable player of the playoffs, got his second of six playoff shutouts.

Dustin Brown, Alexei Kovalev and Rick Nash were named yesterday as the three finalists for the 11th annual NHL Foundation Player Award, which is awarded yearly to an NHL player "in recognition of his commitment and service to charities in his community." The winner will be announced on June 18 at the league's annual awards gala.

The Montreal Canadiens start the second half of the NHL season tonight when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Bell Centre.

Didn't we just start the first round? Through Wednesday night's action, two teams are already gone and two more could disappear Thursday.

Listen, if you've watched one public autopsy of the local NHL team's failed season with slack-jawed fascination, you've gawked at 'em all, haven't you? All right, maybe not exactly.

With a bad hangover just beginning to settle in from an unsuccessful centennial season, the Montreal Canadiens head into the off-season with a lineup - and a future - full of question marks.