1
He won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994.
15 Interesting Facts About Alexei Kovalev
Alexei Kovalev was a Russian hockey legend known for his dazzling stickhandling, a Stanley Cup champion, and an NHL All-Star MVP who recorded over 1,000 career points.
Position
Right wing
Jersey
#27
Status
Retired
Teams
10
Facts
15
2
He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 NHL All-Star Game.
3
He was the first Russian-born player to be drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.
4
He became one of the first four Russians to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
5
He scored his 1,000th career point against the Los Angeles Kings.
6
He played in over 1,300 National Hockey League games over 18 seasons.
7
He was awarded the Canadiens' captaincy on two occasions during the 2007–08 season.
8
He holds the record for most NHL games played by a player born and trained in the Soviet Union.
9
He scored a career-high four goals in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
10
He won a gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics representing the Unified Team.
11
He was named the tournament's best forward at the 2005 World Championships.
12
He was diagnosed with a heart disorder at age eight, which prevented him from playing hockey for two years.
13
He signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Ottawa Senators as an unrestricted free agent.
14
His second tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 was brief, as the general manager chose not to re-sign him.
15
He made a surprise return to professional hockey for EHC Visp in 2016, where he was also the general manager, and was ejected from the game.
About Alexei Kovalev
Alexei Kovalev was a highly skilled Russian right winger known for his exceptional stickhandling and wrist shot. He played over 1,300 NHL games across 18 seasons, winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994 and later earning the NHL All-Star Game MVP in 2009. After multiple retirements, he transitioned into coaching and management, leaving a legacy as one of the most talented Russian players of his era.
Career Achievements & Milestones
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Stanley Cup Champion
1994
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NHL All-Star Game MVP Award
2009
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Olympic Gold Medal
1992
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IIHF World Championship Best Forward
2005
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1,000th Career Point
2010
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about Alexei Kovalev.
Player Info
Country: Russia
Position: Right wing
Jersey #: 27
Status: Retired
Age: 52 years old
Physical Stats
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 222 lbs (101 kg)
Born: Tolyatti, Russian SFSR
Career Stats
Seasons: 26
Goals: 430
Assists: 599
Points: 1029
Teams: 10
Drafted: 1991
Round: 1st
Teams & Career
Dynamo Moscow New York Rangers Lada Togliatti Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Canadiens Ak Bars Kazan Ottawa Senators Atlant Moscow Oblast Florida Panthers EHC Visp
Alexei Kovalev played for 10 different teams during his 26 seasons career. He was originally drafted 1st overall by the New York Rangers in 1991.