Alex Kovalev regrets his decision to sign with the Ottawa Senators in the summer of 2009 when he could have extended his adventure with the Montreal Canadiens.

The former Russian striker in particular commented on this issue a lengthy text he penned, published on Radio-Canada’s website.

“I’ve gotten a little too greedy,” he admitted. On the other hand, I wanted to experience respect, but I didn’t succeed. I didn’t ask for much more, just a small raise. If I had to do it again, I would take the Canadian’s offer.

Kovalev had settled on a two-year contract with the Senators, who offered him a slight increase of $500,000 compared to the salary he received at Montreal during his four-year contract (2005-2006 to 2008-2009). We’re talking about a sum of five million.

A gradual decline began among the senators. His last season was with the Florida Panthers in 2012-13; a brief stint of 14 inconclusive games.

Kovalev also looked back on his best Montreal season in 2007–2008 when he scored 84 points. He says he intervened to keep Andrei Kostitsyn with the Canadiens so he could take him under his wing.

“I had asked the assistant coach to recall Andrei Kostitsyn from the school club,” he revealed. I remember they used to bring him back and forth. They brought him back for two or three games but things didn’t go too well and they sent him back down.

“I asked them to keep him in Montreal and let me work with him. Don’t touch him anymore and let me play with him and you will see that things will change. That’s what happened. And in the company of Tomas Plekanec we became a much better trio.

Towards the end of the text, the person nicknamed “Artist” is making a plea for a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kovalev has twice won the Stanley Cup and also won gold at the 1992 Olympics with the unified team of the former USSR.

“I deserve it because of everything I’ve achieved as a Russian player, both internationally and in the National League,” he said. In our time, it will be even more difficult for some players to get involved because of everything that is going on in the world.

You can Read Kovalev’s full text here. There is also talk of the famous baton he received during the 2004 playoffs and his work with Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov.