Confirmed with Link: Avs sign Kovalenko to 2-year deal

[GoNordiquesGo]

Recrutement strategy and politics are not the same thing at all...

Recruitment strategy = sign here instead of there and we garantee you a fair try. But you'll have to earn it else you won't stick.

Politic = suck mine and I'll suck yours...

 

[Foppa2118]

Why have I never heard of him lol?

Different style than Kovalenko, but Nikolishin was an outstanding defensive 3C for the Avs. Great PKer and faceoff guy too. Was kinda injury prone though and only stayed 1 year in 03-04.

It legitimately was like night and day when he was in versus out of the lineup though.

When he was in, it slotted everyone else into the right spot, and he provided so much stability with his two way play, the team seemed to follow his lead.

When he was out they played like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Different style than Kovalenko, but Nikolishin was an outstanding defensive 3C for the Avs. Great PKer and faceoff guy too. Was kinda injury prone though and only stayed 1 year in 03-04.

It legitimately was like night and day when he was in versus out of the lineup though.

When he was in, it slotted everyone else into the right spot, and he provided so much stability with his two way play, the team seemed to follow his lead.

When he was out they played like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.

Loved him and Kono when they were here.

 

[thedoctor]

Different style than Kovalenko, but Nikolishin was an outstanding defensive 3C for the Avs. Great PKer and faceoff guy too. Was kinda injury prone though and only stayed 1 year in 03-04.

It legitimately was like night and day when he was in versus out of the lineup though.

When he was in, it slotted everyone else into the right spot, and he provided so much stability with his two way play, the team seemed to follow his lead.

When he was out they played like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.

Agreed, and he wasn't just a good faceoff guy, he was goddamn magic. Don't think I've ever seen anyone as good as him. 58% his year with us.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Loved him and Kono when they were here.

I still don't understand what the point of the Gratton trade was.

He was probably 6'5'' though.

 

[niwotsblessing]

I still don't understand what the point of the Gratton trade was.

He was probably 6'5'' though.

Cue @Hasbro

 

[Foppa2118]

I still don't understand what the point of the Gratton trade was.

He was probably 6'5'' though.

Nikolishin had been out for like a month prior to the deadline. They wanted some insurance depth at C and to slot Niko down to 4C. He tried to come back for a few games after the deadline but went back on the shelf for another month before the playoffs.

That line was great with Kono, Gratton, and Barnaby though. Was probably their best line after the trade deadline. Total forechecking dominance kept the puck in the O zone every shift.

Then Granato inexplicably broke it up for the playoffs.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Nikolishin had been out for like a month prior to the deadline. They wanted some insurance depth at C and to slot Niko down to 4C. He tried to come back for a few games after the deadline but went back on the shelf for another month before the playoffs.

That line was great with Kono, Gratton, and Barnaby though. Was probably their best line after the trade deadline. Total forechecking dominance kept the puck in the O zone every shift.

Then Granato inexplicably broke it up for the playoffs.

Best third line in Avs history as far as im concerned.

 

[Avs9296]

Best third line in Avs history as far as im concerned.

For me it's Brett McLean-Tyler Arnason-Ian Laperriere

Perfect mix of stone hands, laziness, ugliness, and stripper funding.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Different style than Kovalenko, but Nikolishin was an outstanding defensive 3C for the Avs. Great PKer and faceoff guy too. Was kinda injury prone though and only stayed 1 year in 03-04.

It legitimately was like night and day when he was in versus out of the lineup though.

When he was in, it slotted everyone else into the right spot, and he provided so much stability with his two way play, the team seemed to follow his lead.

When he was out they played like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.

This is why I don't remember him. I was deployed most of 03/04.

 

[Avs_19]

Some good and interesting quotes. I guess The Professor isn't a big believer in Drouin.

Shout out @The Mars Volchenkov. Appreciate the work you put in.

 

[JLo217]

Some good and interesting quotes. I guess The Professor isn't a big believer in Drouin.

Shout out @The Mars Volchenkov. Appreciate the work you put in.

Great read. That said Colorado Hockey Now has more ads than Yahoo clickbait. Almost unreadable.

 

[Avs9296]

If he's as good as Larionov thinks he's going to be, he's going to round out that 3rd line with Wood and Colton quite well. Hope for the best!

 

[EdAVSfan]

Nothing to dislike about what’s going on with Kovalenko. He’s under tutelage of an extremely successful NHLer. He’s going to get prime minutes and important minutes.

And it’s great to see that both Larionov and Kovalenko both have their heads towards his NHL career.

I’m personally glad he stayed in Russia. There’s a much lesser chance he sours and wants to go back.

And if he does, it’ll simply be because he’s not playing here. And if he’s not playing, it’s because he’s not good enough.

 

[Foppa2118]

That quote about what Larionov sees in the Avs top six is a little silly but it's fine. He's just advocating for his guy. He'll be a middle six option anyway if he's playing well.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I really liked the last bit of that article. When asking Nikolai if he thinks about playing with Nate, Mikko and Landy, his response was absolutely perfect. “I can’t yet, while I have to work.”

I know these young men are trained on interviews and Q&As but this was great. I love that he wants to be a top-six guy not a top-nine guy. I have no idea if he'll be able to make it, but I love that he's setting his goals higher than a lot of us are giving him credit for.

For anyone that's watched him play, are there any good NHL comparable players?

 

[AvsFan2123]

I believe it was in this chat where I posted the two graphs/projections of Kovalenko. One had him as like a 70% chance to be a star and the other was essentially, “Meh. Maybe he plays in the NHL. Maybe not”. So I’m just hoping for something in between I guess lol. A staple on third line next to Colton and Wood would be fantastic. Especially at $892K for this year and next. Cause he prefers RW IIRC right? That line would be absolute forechecking chaos. Someone is going to get wrecked every other shift if that’s a line cause from what I’ve seen Kovalenko plays bigger than his frame would suggest.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Great read. That said Colorado Hockey Now has more ads than Yahoo clickbait. Almost unreadable.

I hate ads too, but gotta get paid somehow.

 

[henchman21]

I really liked the last bit of that article. When asking Nikolai if he thinks about playing with Nate, Mikko and Landy, his response was absolutely perfect. “I can’t yet, while I have to work.”

I know these young men are trained on interviews and Q&As but this was great. I love that he wants to be a top-six guy not a top-nine guy. I have no idea if he'll be able to make it, but I love that he's setting his goals higher than a lot of us are giving him credit for.

For anyone that's watched him play, are there any good NHL comparable players?

The comparison that’s easy for the Avs is Lehky.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

The comparison that’s easy for the Avs is Lehky.

Can't say I hate the sound of that. Considering Lehky is considered our mini-Nuke it would be awesome if he plays the same way defensively. Having a relentless puck hound on each of the top three lines would be awesome.

I had been thinking Saad as a comparable in my head, but I'm pretty bad at these things.

 

[henchman21]

Can't say I hate the sound of that. Considering Lehky is considered our mini-Nuke it would be awesome if he plays the same way defensively. Having a relentless puck hound on each of the top three lines would be awesome.

I had been thinking Saad as a comparable in my head, but I'm pretty bad at these things.

I personally have questions if his talent level is enough to be that guy at the top level, but he plays a lot like Lehky style wise. Hard on the puck, will play physical, blocks shots, PK, etc. Last year in the KHL, he was more of a driver that Lehky has been.

My issue with Saad is the guy could flat out be lazy af at times and he’s a decent chunk bigger.

 

[Hasbro]

Some good and interesting quotes. I guess The Professor isn't a big believer in Drouin.

Shout out @The Mars Volchenkov. Appreciate the work you put in.

Hope Larionov isn't holdig a grudge from the rivalry. He might be preparing a Manchurian Candidate.

 

[niwotsblessing]

Hope Larionov isn't holdig a grudge from the rivalry. He might be preparing a Manchurian Candidate.

Larionov and Yzerman are probably the only two guys from those Detoilet teams I'd trust.

 

[GoNordiquesGo]

So Nuke as a Top-6 winger, mini-Nuke (Lehky) as an excellent 3rd liner would can play well in the top-6 if needed and mini-mini-Nuke, also called mini-Lehky (Kovalenko) as good 3rd liner.

Works for me!

 

[MaKarter]

Kovalenko is what Kaut was supposed to be.