Who is Nikolai Kovalenko, the newest Sharks’ prospect ?
Recently, the Avalanche and the Sharks made a trade involving two goalies. MacKenzie Blackwood was headed to Colorado in exchange for Alexandar Georgiev, with picks also being part of the deal. Notably, Nikolai Kovalenko was also included in the transaction. Who is this prospect, and what can he bring to the Sharks’ rebuild?
Nikolai Kovalenko is considered a prospect, but he is a 25-year-old forward with several years of professional experience. Drafted in the 6th round by the Avalanche in 2018, Kovalenko made the organization wait six seasons before making the jump to North America at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Between 2019 and 2024, he played in the KHL, and his last two seasons sparked excitement among Avalanche fans about this small, skilled winger.
After seasons of 54 points and 35 points with Torpedo (with a major injury last year, it should be noted), Kovalenko joined the Colorado Eagles in the AHL to finish the 2024 season. However, he was injured again in the playoffs, which affected his AHL arrival. This season, he played only in the NHL, tallying 4 goals and 4 assists in 28 games. The winger holds dual nationality (Russian and American) as he is the son of Andre Kovalenko, a former member of the Nordiques and Avalanche. He stands 5’10 » and weighs 192 pounds. Now that the statistical side is covered, what can we expect from Nikolai Kovalenko on the ice?
In the KHL
My colleague from TSLH Prospects, Pascal Lapointe, wrote a scouting report on Nikolai Kovalenko last year for one of our Patreon members. Additionally, Kovalenko played for Torpedo, a team that also includes Anton Silayev and Nikita Artamonov. Anyone who has observed Silayev and Artamonov for the 2024 draft should certainly know what Kovalenko can offer on the ice. He was the key player for Torpedo last year, and I can confirm it was hard to miss him! Here’s what I wrote about Kovalenko’s performances observed in February 2024 during my scouting of Silayev and Artamonov:
“Nikolai Kovalenko is a small 5’10 » forward, but his 192 pounds help him maintain a low, strong center of gravity. He is rarely knocked off balance during contact, although it’s less frequent than in North American hockey. Very creative, Kovalenko is an offensive threat. He is a finesse player who handles the puck very well.”
Here’s what my colleague Pascal observed about Kovalenko while he was playing in the KHL:
“He’s an efficient and very fluid skater. He also brings a good motor and a fast-paced game. His puck management is definitely Kovalenko’s standout attribute. With his speed and quick decision-making, he maneuvers around everyone to create offense. Kovalenko is fearless. He’s not a physical player, but I wouldn’t call him soft either. However, he often puts himself in danger. The winger frequently has his head down during transitions. This won’t fly in the NHL. He’ll definitely need coaching for the smaller rinks, as much of his offensive impact comes from the space on the ice.”
In the NHL
Now, what has Nikolai Kovalenko shown since arriving in the NHL? After a few games with the Colorado Avalanche, I’ve noticed that his adaptation is not yet 100% successful. First, his physical limitations are impacting his ability to influence the game. At times, he seems lost on the ice, as if his skills and abilities no longer have the same impact, and he needs to find new ways to stand out.
Kovalenko shows good intensity. He’s aggressive when recovering the puck and doesn’t hesitate to work in dangerous areas like in front of the net or in the corners. However, his physicality and the much smaller space in the NHL compared to the KHL are catching up with the 25-year-old forward. His skating isn’t as effective as it was in the KHL. In fact, opponents often gain the advantage over Kovalenko, resulting in turnovers. He can no longer rely solely on his creativity and speed to outmaneuver opponents. He is in possession of the puck much less than he was with Torpedo, and when he does have it, the opponent is on him so quickly that Kovalenko panics and doesn’t allow space for his creativity. This significantly reduces his impact on the ice. He’s not a player who delivers effective checks. Instead, he’ll bump the opponent along the boards and put in a lot of effort to steal the puck.
Projection
It would be easy to say that he could become a scorer, perhaps netting around 10 goals in the NHL, as his projected output for the season is 11 goals. I think Kovalenko is currently capable of playing in the NHL, but his reaction time and inability to gain speed are preventing him from making an impact.
In San Jose, I think he could provide some value at the moment. There’s room in the lineup, and he could be used on the power play more often. However, at 25 years old and with significant gaps in space and reaction time, I think Kovalenko will quickly fall behind in the Sharks’ hierarchy. His role in the rebuild? Filling a spot while waiting for better prospects to arrive.
When Quentin Musty, Filip Bystedt, Danil Gushchin, Thomas Bordeleau, and Igor Chernyshov arrive, Kovalenko’s position compared to these prospects will be lower. For a short time, Kovalenko can be an NHL player with the Sharks, but I wouldn’t guarantee his success unless he improves his reaction time on the ice.
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