Alexei Kovalev: “I had two offers from NHL teams, but I decided to get back to Russia” (Photo © Getty Images)

Alexei Kovalev recently signed a 2-year deal with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, and he confirmed that he still had offers from the NHL.

“I had two offers from NHL teams”, 38-years-old Kovalev told Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport. “But I chose Russia.”

Kovalev, who played more than 1300 games in the NHL, scoring more than 1000 points, explained one of the main reasons for his move to the Moscow region team.

“The lenght of the contract was a problem. I don’t want to pack my suitcases every year. I understood that in North America I wouldn’t get more than an one-year deal, while Atlant offered me two years.”

Kovalev also explained other aspects of his transfer.

“I didn’t play much in Russia. I got to the Rangers when I was 19 and I played in the NHL all my career. It’s hard to get used to something new, but I have a profession and I will keep on playing. I am healthy, I still have hands and conditioning. Yes, I’m going to another place, but hockey is hockey. I love it and I enjoy playing.”

Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin added to Olympics squad (Photo © vancouver2010.com)

Alexei Kovalev, Alexander Frolov, Sergei Zubov and Nikolai Kulemin are going to the Olympic Games in Vancouver as substitutes for the Russian team.

It is not officially announced yet but according to Russian site infox.ru Kovalev, Frolov, Zubov and Kulemin have received the Olympics equipment as well as other players from the official Team Russia roster. It means they are going to the Olympics in the status of substitute players.

Overall Russia will have 9 substitute players, three from the NHL and six from the KHL.

The list of Russian Olympics substitute players

NHL
1. Alexei Kovalev, Ottawa Senators
2. Alexander Frolov, Los Angeles Kings
3. Nikolai Kulemin, Toronto Maple Leafs

KHL
4. Vasiliy Koschechkin, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
5. Alexander Eremenko, Salavat Yulaev
6. Sergei Zubov, SKA St. Petersburg
7. Vitaliy Proshkin, Salavat Yulaev
8. Oleg Tverdovskiy, Salavat Yulaev
9. Alexei Tereschenko, Ak Bars

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