It counts that way too:
He is just continuing on the development path he has always been on. He would have scored more last year had he been given more TOI. This year, like Atas continuously mentions, his scoring is a bit inflated by his usage. He was always a player who skates well, works hard and bullies his way to the net.He’s scored 11 points (5G + 6A) in 18 games, matching his point total for all of last year (41 games).
Is he starting to develop into something some posters were hoping for or is it just a flash in the pan? I would love to get more insight on if he has a future in the NHL and if so in what capacity? I saw one poster who seems a bit down on him suggest that he’s top6 or bust; is that the case or does he have versatility throughout the lineup?
He is just continuing on the development path he has always been on. He would have scored more last year had he been given more TOI. This year, like Atas continuously mentions, his scoring is a bit inflated by his usage. He was always a player who skates well, works hard and bullies his way to the net.
"Top-6 or bust" is a terrible, absolutely out-to-lunch terrible evaluation of him as a prospect, I'd even go as far as asking maybe you mixed him up with someone. His absolute best-case scenario was low-end 2nd line forward (I think at this point it's safe to say he isn't going to get there) but way more realistically traits listed above make him into a good, useful bottom-6 player. Your typical low-risk, low-reward prospect. Although to be fair, from a pick #171 the reward is still pretty damn high.
When I put him in the Top6 or bust territory I meant his size. I doubt he can be any good on the bottom six on NHL level. He is no Selke candidate either. He is perfect for where he is now. He can play in the top six in the KHL with some creative players to do the thinking for him and pot in some goals. He sure has the energy and drive to do the dirty work too. If he is matched up gainst NHL defences though he might be not able to come through. He's gained muscle though. So yes, low risk low reward. There is still a possibility he might, just might do something in the NHL someday, but given his pick it would be no surprise both ways.He is just continuing on the development path he has always been on. He would have scored more last year had he been given more TOI. This year, like Atas continuously mentions, his scoring is a bit inflated by his usage. He was always a player who skates well, works hard and bullies his way to the net.
"Top-6 or bust" is a terrible, absolutely out-to-lunch terrible evaluation of him as a prospect, I'd even go as far as asking maybe you mixed him up with someone. His absolute best-case scenario was low-end 2nd line forward (I think at this point it's safe to say he isn't going to get there) but way more realistically traits listed above make him into a good, useful bottom-6 player. Your typical low-risk, low-reward prospect. Although to be fair, from a pick #171 the reward is still pretty damn high.
Looks like officially it is 4 points for now or am I missing something?5 points in 2 games so far under Larionov.
Looks like officially it is 4 points for now or am I missing something?
Looks like they corrected that now though and now he indeed has 5 points.Yeah, they've given one of his today's assists to someone else.
@Caser Has Kovalenko ever expressed a desire to come to N.America?
That extension until end of 23/24 kind of worries me
Extremely unlikely, not to mention that it doesn't make too much sense for him to do that.I know he has a year left after this one on his KHL contract but is there any way out of that? Is it at all possible for Colorado to sign him for next season or maybe even for the remainder of this season like Radulov in Nashville that one year where the whole curfew thing happened.