MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Florida Panthers have decided to try to boost the roster by signing Alexei Kovalev to a one-year contract after the 39-year-old spent last season out of the National Hockey League.

Kovalev has played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators during his career. He played most recently in the 2010-2011 season in the NHL for the Penguins.

According to prohockeytalk.com, Kovalev played in Russia last season for the Atlant Moscow Oblast before a knee injury sidelined him after just 22 games.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Kovalev is skating with the Panthers’ second line along with rookie left winger Jonathan Huberdeau and center Peter Mueller.