Gonchar wants to play at least 4-to-5 more seasons

Those close to Sergei Gonchar have it made known for weeks that Sergei Gonchar believes he can play at a high level for at least 3-to-4 more years.

It appears Gonchar has his sights set on playing beyond the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

J.P. Barry the agent for Sergei Gonchar told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun that Sergei wants to play “at least four more seasons” and maybe even play into his early 40’s.

“Sergei has been the most offensively productive defenseman in the league since the lockout,” Barry told ESPN.com. “Over the past decade, Sergei and Nicklas Lidstrom have been in a class of their own. Sergei would like to play at least four more seasons and play for Russia at the [2014] Sochi Olympics. At that time, he will be the same age Nicklas Lidstrom is now, and he will go year to year from there.”

Gonchar has the most goals of any defenseman (148) since the 1999-2000 season.