Nikolai Kovalenko - NHL News & Rumors

Garners another helper Kovalenko provided an assist and two hits in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Jets.

Impact Kovalenko has five assists over his last three games. It's taken him virtually no time at all to settle into a middle-six role since he was traded to the Sharks from the Avalanche. The 25-year-old winger is up to 13 points, 29 shots on net, 42 hits and a minus-5 rating over 32 appearances this season, but it looks like his ceiling is much higher in San Jose, making him an option in deeper fantasy formats for now.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lends assist in loss Kovalenko logged a power-play assist in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Utah.

Impact Kovalenko is fitting right in with the Sharks, earning four assists over his first three games since he was traded from the Avalanche. The 25-year-old has filled a second-line role with his new team, and while the Sharks don't boast a great offense, it's more of an opportunity than he got regularly in Colorado. Kovalenko has a total of 12 points, 29 shots on net, 40 hits and a minus-5 rating through 31 appearances as a rookie this season.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Three helpers Thursday Kovalenko distributed three assists Thursday in a 4-3 win over St. Louis.

Impact Kovalenko recorded his first three-point outing of the campaign Thursday, and it came in just his second game with his new club. The 25-year-old skated on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli, and Kovalenko's ice time increased from 9:23 in his first game with the Sharks on Tuesday to 13:18 in Thursday's victory. Kovalenko will certainly be a name to keep an eye on if he can maintain a top-six role, and he could be an option on the man advantage Saturday against Utah if Klim Kostin (undisclosed) is unable to suit up. The left-shot winger Kovalenko is up to four goals and 11 points through 30 appearances (28 with Colorado).

DECEMBER 13 • ROTOWIRE

Could suit up Tuesday Kovalenko (undisclosed) will be available to play in Tuesday's road game versus the Hurricanes, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Kovalenko was acquired by the Sharks in a trade with the Avalanche on Monday. The 25-year-old wasn't able to participate in the club's morning skate, but head coach Ryan Warsofsky said that Kovalenko will be an option at even strength and on the man advantage against the Hurricanes. Kovalenko will almost certainly be in the lineup if Klim Kostin (lower body), who is a game-time decision Tuesday, is unable play. Kovalenko accumulated four goals and four helpers over 28 games with Colorado.

DECEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Flipped in trade Kovalenko (undisclosed) was sent to San Jose from Colorado on Monday, along with Alexandar Georgiev, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick in a swap for Mackenzie Bl...

Impact Kovalenko will join a strong young core of forwards in San Jose after logging 28 games for the Avalanche this season. In those outings, the 25-year-old winger notched four goals on 27 shots, four assists and 34 hits while averaging 12:00 of ice time. While Kovalenko was originally ruled out against New Jersey on Sunday with an undisclosed injury, it's possible the team was simply holding him out of action while it finalized this move.

DECEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Won't suit up in New Jersey Kovalenko (undisclosed) will not be available for Sunday's road matchup with the Devils, according to the NHL media site.

Impact Kovalenko will miss his first game of the season. The 25-year-old didn't play in the final 15:31 of Saturday's 2-1 win over Detroit after blocking a shot, per Corey Masisak of The Denver Post. Kovalenko will be replaced in the lineup by Nikita Prishchepov.

DECEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Scores on power play in loss Kovalenko scored a power-play goal on two shots and added two PIM in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Oilers.

Impact Kovalenko had the opening tally at 7:02 of the first period. Kovalenko snapped his six-game point drought with the goal. The 25-year-old has taken on a larger role as the injury bug takes a second run at the Avalanche's forward group. The winger is up to four goals, eight points, 26 shots on net, 31 hits and a minus-6 rating through 25 appearances this season.

DECEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Up from minors Kovalenko was called up by Colorado on Wednesday.

Impact Kovalenko has three goals and seven points in 22 appearances with the Avalanche this season. He hasn't played in the AHL this season but keeps getting briefly reassigned to the minors for cap purposes.

NOVEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Monday.

Impact This move is likely a paper transaction, and Kovalenko could be back with the big club as soon as Tuesday. The 25-year-old has registered three goals and four assists through 22 games.

NOVEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE

Finds back of net Friday Kovalenko scored his third goal of the season Friday in a 5-2 loss to Washington.

Impact Kovalenko got on the board with an even-strength tally in the second period, but that was the last of Colorado's offensive output for the night. The 25-year-old added two shots, two hits, and a plus-2 rating in a team-low 6:31 of ice time. The 2018 sixth-round pick is slotting on the fourth line, and he's up to three goals, four assists and a minus-4 rating through 18 contests.

NOVEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned from AHL Colorado Kovalenko was recalled from AHL Colorado on Friday,

Impact Kovalenko was sent down Thursday in what was a paper move as the Avalanche are up against the cap. The 25-year-old has two goals and six points in 17 NHL games this season. He will likely be a bottom-six forward as the Avs are expected to get top-six forwards Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) back in the lineup Friday.

NOVEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to minors Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Thursday.

Impact Kovalenko's return to the minors might just be a paper move for salary cap reasons because the Avalanche's next game isn't until Friday versus Washington. Consequently, it would not be surprising if there's another update in about 24 hours saying that he's been recalled. There is a bit of an x-factor here with Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) set to be activated Friday, but Chris Wagner was put on waivers Thursday, so it might be Wagner rather than Kovalenko being sent to the minors for the long run to make room for Nichushkin. The 25-year-old Kovalenko has two goals and six points in 17 appearances with the Avalanche in 2024-25.

NOVEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

One of each in win Kovalenko scored a power-play goal and added an assist in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Kraken.

Impact Kovalenko earned his second multi-point effort of the year, securing that with his goal late in the third period. The 25-year-old continues to fill a middle-six role as the Avalanche navigate choppy waters on the injury front. Kovalenko is up to two goals, four assists, 13 shots on net, 22 hits and a minus-5 rating over 13 appearances. His pair of points Tuesday snapped a three-game dry spell.

NOVEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Called up from minors Kovalenko was elevated from AHL Colorado on Monday.

Impact Kovalenko continues to move between levels despite having played in 12 games for the Avs this season. In those outings, the 25-year-old winger has registered one goal on 12 shots, three assists and 22 hits while averaging 13:41 of ice time. Until the team gets fully healthy, which may take a while given all their injuries, Kovalenko could find himself the odd man out -- though he has plenty of time to cement himself as a full-time NHL option.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to AHL Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Saturday.

Impact This is likely a paper move unless the Avalanche are getting a forward back before Tuesday's game versus the Kraken. Kovalenko saw his point drought reach three games after he was limited to one hit and no other fantasy-relevant stats over 12:25 of ice time Saturday in a 5-2 loss to the Predators.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to AHL Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Saturday.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Gets first career goal Kovalenko scored a goal and added two hits in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Senators.

Impact Kovalenko is starting to get comfortable in the NHL -- all four of his points have come over the last five games. The 25-year-old winger opened the scoring Sunday at 19:52 of the first period with his first career goal. He's added 11 shots on net, 19 hits and a minus-2 rating through nine appearances while filling a middle-six role.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Offers pair of helpers Kovalenko recorded two assists and three hits in Thursday's 5-1 win over Utah.

Impact This was Kovalenko's first multi-point effort at the NHL level. The 25-year-old has picked up three assists, 10 shots on net, 17 hits and a minus-3 rating over eight contests this season. Kovalenko continues to play on the second line at even strength, though he's topped 15 minutes of ice time in just one game so far.

OCTOBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Secures first NHL point Kovalenko notched an assist, three shots on goal and two hits in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact Kovalenko earned his first NHL point by setting up Casey Mittelstadt's second-period tally. Through five appearances, Kovalenko has added nine shots on net, 14 hits and a minus-3 rating. The 25-year-old winger is playing in a middle-six role and on the second power-play unit, but fantasy managers will want to see him put up an extended stretch of offense before picking him up.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to NHL club Kovalenko was recalled by the Avalanche on Wednesday.

Impact Kovalenko was sent to the AHL on Tuesday, but he'll rejoin the injury-plagued Avalanche ahead of Wednesday's game against Boston. Over his first three NHL appearances of the season, he's tallied eight hits and two blocked shots while averaging 14:06 of ice time.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Headed back to minors Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Tuesday.

Impact This marks Kovalenko's third demotion in October, a trend that figures to continue as long as the Avs are trying to save some cap space. Fantasy players can likely expect the winger to be back on the NHL roster ahead of Wednesday's matchup with the Bruins.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Back in bigs Kovalenko was recalled from AHL Colorado on Friday.

Impact Kovalenko played in Wednesday's season opener versus Vegas and was sent down to the Eagles on Thursday for salary cap reasons. He saw 14:57 of ice time, with two shots on goal and one hit. Look for Kovalenko to see third line minutes versus Columbus on Saturday, alongside Ross Colton and Logan O'Connor.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Returned to minors Kovalenko was sent down to AHL Colorado on Thursday.

Impact Kovalenko made his NHL debut against the Golden Knights on Thursday, registering two shots, one hit and a minus-1 rating in 14:57 of ice time. With the Avs hard up against the cap, don't be surprised to see the 24-year-old winger frequently shifting between levels in what amount to paper transaction. As such, Kovalenko figures to be called back up ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Blue Jackets.

OCTOBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Called up Tuesday Kovalenko was recalled from AHL Colorado on Tuesday.

Impact Kovalenko was assigned to AHL Colorado on Monday, but he's back with the big club ahead of Wednesday's season opener against the Golden Knights. The 24-year-old will likely begin the season as the Avalanche's 13th forward. Kovalenko picked up three points in four games with AHL Colorado in 2023-24.

OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to AHL Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Monday.

Impact Kovalenko will head to the minors ahead of Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Golden Knights, but the move appears to be procedural, so he'll likely rejoin the Avalanche ahead of Opening Night. The 24-year-old logged 11 goals and 35 points over 42 appearances in the KHL last year.

OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

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