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

[NorthernAvsFan]

I mean, we can dump on the KHL, but he looks like a NHL player to me. I had him as our best prospect prior to the year and still do.

Kuzmenko had his big KHL year one season before Kovalenko broke out and even the year before, Kovy was solid.

Now I don’t think Kovalenko has Kuzmenko’s skill, but he does play a NHL style game.

Imo, 3rd line potential is a reasonable expectation.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I mean, we can dump on the KHL, but he looks like a NHL player to me. I had him as our best prospect prior to the year and still do.

Kuzmenko had his big KHL year one season before Kovalenko broke out and even the year before, Kovy was solid.

Now I don’t think Kovalenko has Kuzmenko’s skill, but he does play a NHL style game.

Imo, 3rd line potential is a reasonable expectation.

Kovalenko looks better than Barabanov ever was, and if Barabanov plays top6 then Kovalenko will be able to play the role even more. Yeah, I understand that Barabanov plays top6 on a sucky team, he still doesn't look out of place vs NHL competition. Kovalenko will be even better.

 

[Caser]

Yeah I worded that wrong. I meant I had seen a few disagree by just how much weaker it is. Seems like a biased take because everyone seems to be on the same page it's drastically weaker. I don't think I've ever watched a KHL game in my life lol

Slows down the hype for me abit. If he can be a good 3rd/4th liner that's a big win. A Kuzmenko level player would be a homerun.

From my observations from the people who actually have been watching the KHL for at least last 3-4 years I didn't see anyone who would be telling that it is "drastically weaker". I mean, KHL star guys like Shipachyov should be destroying the league if it would become much weaker, but they are not.

My very approximate, but still a model had KHL player level down last season by about 10% comparing to the pre-war times (would be lower if we compare to the seasons when there wasn't any salary cap though), yet it should be noted that the scoring has gone down as well.

I think KHL is very close with the SHL now, but it is pretty much impossible to compare without head to head games, however when comparing an average 2022/23 KHL team (Vityaz) vs. SHL's (Leksands), I'd say just on paper (so judging by the names) Vityaz looked better to me. NLA doesn't have enough domestic talent to be that close to those at least yet.

 

[NorthernAvsFan]

From my observations from the people who actually have been watching the KHL for at least last 3-4 years I didn't see anyone who would be telling that it is "drastically weaker". I mean, KHL star guys like Shipachyov should be destroying the league if it would become much weaker, but they are not.

My very approximate, but still a model had KHL player level down last season by about 10% comparing to the pre-war times (would be lower if we compare to the seasons when there wasn't any salary cap though), yet it should be noted that the scoring has gone down as well.

I think KHL is very close with the SHL now, but it is pretty much impossible to compare without head to head games, however when comparing an average 2022/23 KHL team (Vityaz) vs. SHL's (Leksands), I'd say just on paper (so judging by the names) Vityaz looked better to me. NLA doesn't have enough domestic talent to be that close to those at least yet.

From what you’ve seen of him play, what do you think Kovalenko becomes in Colorado?

 

[JLo217]

Russian league lost many players from other European countries. It's way weaker.

Russia used to be the destination for Finnish players, if not Switzerland or NHL.

Money wise Russia was probably always second to NHL. I believe.

The crash back in 2014 from sanctions and obviously the pay now is almost pennies on the dollar literally.

 

[Caser]

From what you’ve seen of him play, what do you think Kovalenko becomes in Colorado?

Back at the draft I thought of him as of a potential middle-six NHL guy and I think he still has the talent, unless the concussions get in the way. As for a potential role with the Avs there are too many ifs, particularly I think a lot of roster decisions will be made on Landeskog's condition when he will return.

 

[Caser]

The crash back in 2014 from sanctions and obviously the pay now is almost pennies on the dollar literally.

It is still more than any other Euro league pays though.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

The crash back in 2014 from sanctions and obviously the pay now is almost pennies on the dollar literally.

I assume foreign players get paid in euro or dollar.

 

[Caser]

I assume foreign players get paid in euro or dollar.

Unlikely, I think usually the practice is just to pour more rubles to compensate for the currency rate drop.

 

[JLo217]

It is still more than any other Euro league pays though.

I have a photographer friend over there who is making about $45-$60 USD a day. 3 years ago he was making $800-$1000 USD. Not that it reflects everything, but that's a pretty sharp dip.

 

[Caser]

I have a photographer friend over there who is making about $45-$60 USD a day. 3 years ago he was making $800-$1000 USD. Not that it reflects everything, but that's a pretty sharp dip.

$800-$1000 per day was possible only in 2007 if he was working for Gazprom lol. Maybe he meant per some other time period? No, seriously, according to google in 3 years ruble has dropped from 1.4 cents per ruble to 1.0 cents, so either you misunderstood him or there are some other factors in there.

 

[AvsMakar08]

$800-$1000 per day was possible only in 2007 if he was working for Gazprom lol. Maybe he meant per some other time period? No, seriously, according to google in 3 years ruble has dropped from 1.4 cents per ruble to 1.0 cents, so either you misunderstood him or there are some other factors in there.

When do you think Kovalenko could join Avs? like in January or February?

 

[JLo217]

$800-$1000 per day was possible only in 2007 if he was working for Gazprom lol. Maybe he meant per some other time period? No, seriously, according to google in 3 years ruble has dropped from 1.4 cents per ruble to 1.0 cents, so either you misunderstood him or there are some other factors in there.

He's a professional photographer. He used to work a lot between Berlin and Russia. Now for obvious reasons he doesn't get out. Professional photographers on his level to be quite frank get paid near 3000-4000 per day before gear rental in Europe and the States.

There has been a drastic drop for him since 2014 internally. He used to get contracts in USD when other brands still worked in Russia. Now he's only able to get paid in Ruble. Which is effectively worthless.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I mean, we can dump on the KHL, but he looks like a NHL player to me. I had him as our best prospect prior to the year and still do.

Kuzmenko had his big KHL year one season before Kovalenko broke out and even the year before, Kovy was solid.

Now I don’t think Kovalenko has Kuzmenko’s skill, but he does play a NHL style game.

Imo, 3rd line potential is a reasonable expectation.

NHL player for sure. What line he plays on and has success is the question but he looks like an NHL player.

 

[Caser]

He's a professional photographer. He used to work a lot between Berlin and Russia. Now for obvious reasons he doesn't get out. Professional photographers on his level to be quite frank get paid near 3000-4000 per day before gear rental in Europe and the States.

There has been a drastic drop for him since 2014 internally. He used to get contracts in USD when other brands still worked in Russia. Now he's only able to get paid in Ruble. Which is effectively worthless.

Then likely this was the other factor I mentioned, as contracts in USD also means that he was paid by a non-Russian employer. Not to mention that since the 2014 the rate drop was much larger than since 3 years ago that you mentioned initially. From what I heard myself the level of a salary for a pro sports photographer working for a local leading media was in the range of 150k-200k rubles per month, in 2014 the rate was 3 cents per ruble, so about 250 USD per day and it was and still is considered as high-end.

 

[Caser]

When do you think Kovalenko could join Avs? like in January or February?

KHL regular season runs until the end of February, but it is fully expected that Torpedo will make the playoffs.

 

[Balthazar]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Already part of the organization!

 

[Kshahdoo]

Crazy save, goalie robbed Kovalenko of goal.

 

[Avs9296]

Crazy save, goalie robbed Kovalenko of goal.

The way he received the pass and got the shot off really quick in a high spot of the net show really good hands actually.

Great save obviously as well.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Fits our profile.

 

[Mighty Makar]

I hate this f***en team.

 

[Ararana]

 

[Mighty Makar]

What a bum.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Must keep my expectations low....
Must keep my expectations low....
Must keep my expectations low....

But it is getting tougher with every game he plays.