Day: December 6, 2001

by Jim Samuels

It’s been three years – almost to the day – since the big deal that sent Ranger fan favorite Alexei Kovalev to the Pittsburgh Penguins for centerman Petr Nedved.  Kovalev, a former first round draft pick taken 15th overall in the 1991 draft was an integral part of the Blueshirts 1994 Stanley Cup winning team, tallied 23 goals during the regular season that year and also played a huge role in helping the Captain carry out his guarantee in Game 6 of the Conference Finals against the Devils. But Kovalev’s defensive mishaps and penchant for overstaying his shifts quickly eroded any remaining confidence the Blueshirt brass had in the talented winger, his time on Broadway had finally run it’s course.