Former Avalanche draft pick Nikolai Kovalenko's father disrespects the San Jose Sharks with some harsh words
Photo credit: Dean Tait / Sport Shots
Nikolai Kovalenko, 25, had a noteworthy debut NHL season. He began the year with the Colorado Avalanche but saw limited action in his first 28 games.
On December 9, 2024, Kovalenko was traded to the San Jose Sharks as part of a package deal that brought goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to Colorado.
Former Avalanche draft-pick Nikolai Kovalenko's father disrespects the San Jose Sharks.
Erika Towne from Fear the Fin writes that the trade initially looked like a fresh opportunity for Kovalenko to earn top-six minutes, something he hadn't been getting in Colorado. However, his role quickly shrank; after a brief stint on the top line alongside Macklin Celebrini, his ice time was reduced, and he eventually found himself as a healthy scratch in the press box.
Kovalenko's camp argues that his lackluster production stemmed from limited opportunities. According to San Jose Hockey Now, Kovalenko's father, Andrei, told a Russian media outlet that Nikolai deserved more playing time to prove himself.
«It was understandable when Nikolai, in the first half of the season, played on the third line in Colorado, because that club is a championship contender, the competition on the top lines is extremely high. The situation in San Jose, with all respect, is different. It's obvious there's personal [bias] from the coach [Ryan Warsofsky] - and there's no alignment with the [direction] of the management. Watch the Sharks' games - and you'll see who deserves what." -Andrei Kovalenko
After a strong start in his first four games, Kovalenko went through a scoring drought and didn't record another point until January 4. Following that, his scoring remained inconsistent. He wrapped up his stint with the Sharks with 12 points in 29 games, finishing his rookie season with 20 points over 57 games.
Kovalenko's future with the Sharks remains uncertain. As a restricted free agent this summer, he'll need to sign a new contract if he intends to return to the NHL for the 2025-26 season.
"Of course, whether that new contract gets done is another issue. The young winger, as politely as possible, indicated that his view of what he deserved in terms of playing time and what the team felt he deserved did not align. With the return of Egor Afanasyev, the spring addition of Cam Lund and the likelihood that Kasper Halttunen and Quentin Musty will join the Barracuda this fall, Kovalenko faces a lot more competition." -Towne
It would be disappointing to see Kovalenko walk away after just one NHL season, especially given the flashes of potential he showed. That said, if he returns in the fall, he'll need to come back with something to prove.
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JUIN 4 | 32 ANSWERS Former Avalanche draft pick Nikolai Kovalenko's father disrespects the San Jose Sharks with some harsh words Do you think former Avalanche player Nikolai Kovalenko has a future in the NHL? | ||
| yes | 25 | 78.1 % |
| no | 7 | 21.9 % |
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