According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Panthers have signed free agent training camp invitee and longtime NHL veteran scorer Alex Kovalev (pictured above with Ottawa). Kovalev played 22 games for Atlant Moscow Oblast of the KHL in 2011-12, scoring a single goal and recording six points, his lowest since he was 17 with Dynamo Moscow. The club has since made the signing official via Twitter.
Kovalev turns 40 at the end of February, and is coming off two disappointing seasons. He’s expected to play with Peter Mueller and Jonathan Huberdeau, and could be a candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Panthers’ season begins Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:30 pm.