Canadiens Will Not Re-Sign Kovalev

Update: Kovalev Signs With the Senators

The Montreal Canadiens will not re-sign free-agent forward Alexei Kovalev.

When NHL free agency launched on Wednesday, there was near-immediate speculation that the Montreal Canadiens had come to a two-year agreement with forward Alexei Kovalev. Nothing was ever announced, and it quickly became clear that Montreal had no such agreement.

The Canadiens moved quickly on Wednesday, signing forwards Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, and making it clear through that action that Kovalev wasn't a lock to return.

The Canadiens made it official Monday, announcing Kovalev would not return to the team.

General manager Bob Gainey told Montreal radio station CJAD that the team made an offer to Kovalev last week, but the Russian winger took to long to consider the deal, forcing the Canadiens to go in another direction.

Kovalev spent four full seasons in Montreal, tallying 103 of his 394 career goals while a Canadien. The 36-year-old is likely the biggest name left among the free-agent forwards, along with 34-year-old former Montreal teammate Saku Koivu.

As for Montreal, they moved on pretty effectively with the signings of Cammalleri and Gionta, along with the trade for former Ranger Scott Gomez.

Kovalev struggled under the weight of expectations this past season, but that could be said for the entire team, which barely made the playoffs and was decisively swept out by Boston.

Gainey better hope Gomez doesn't suffer a similar failure while playing under the intense pressure that comes with being part of the Canadiens franchise.