Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 12:35pm

PENS BRING BACK KOVALEV

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired winger Alex Kovalev from the Ottawa Senators for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2011.

What does it give the Pittsburgh Penguins
The injury-ravaged Penguins are still hanging around the top of the Eastern Conference standings, so GM Ray Shero decided to add Kovalev for a possible playoff run. They aren't likely to go very far if Sidney Crosby doesn't return from his concussion issues, but at least Kovalev and recent acquisition James Neal gives Pittsburgh added scoring on the wings. Kovalev isn't quite the player he was when he first played with the Pens, but his skill is much needed on this team at this time.

What does it give the Ottawa Senators
The Senators didn't get a lot for Kovalev, but he's getting on in years and was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. So, they did him a favor by sending him back to the place where he played his best hockey in the NHL and took back a late-round pick. They then acquired Marek Svatos off waivers to replace Kovalev. Overall, Kovy's stint in Ottawa was a major disappointment...symbolic of the team's downward spiral.

Fantasy impact