After 15 months, 58 regular-season and two playoff games, Nikolai Kovalenko is leaving the NHL to head back to Russia.
The 25-year-old forward signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow on Saturday, according to the team, which has him listed on the active roster. Kovalenko will play with former Avs Vladislav Kamenev and Spencer Martin, and top NHL prospect Dmitry Buchelnikov (if he doesn’t join the Red Wings organization).
Kovalenko became an unrestricted free agent after the San Jose Sharks chose not to re-sign him. He didn’t land an NHL contract after July 1 and opted for a KHL return instead.
Drafted No. 171 overall in 2016, Kovalenko became one of the more NHL-ready prospects in the Avalanche’s pipeline over the years. He spent six seasons in the KHL before making the leap to North America in April 2024 to join Colorado’s playoff push. Kovalenko’s last two years in Russia were with Torpedo, where he became one of the league’s highest-scorers. He had 54 points in 56 games in 2022-23 before following it up with 35 in 42.
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Kovalenko signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Avs on July 25, 2023 but didn’t join the team until after his KHL season ended. He played two games against the Winnipeg Jets in the opening round of the 2024 playoffs on the fourth line.
Because of injuries to Artturi Lehkonen and Gabe Landeskog, and a suspension for Valeri Nichushkin, Kovalenko started last season in the Avs’ top six alongside fellow rookie Calum Ritchie and center Casey Mittelstadt. Kovalenko went on to record four goals and eight points in 28 games with Colorado before suddenly being part of a massive deal that brought Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado.
In San Jose, Kovalenko produced in the short amount of time he spent with center Macklin Celebrini. But after falling out of favor with the coaching staff, he found himself as a healthy scratch on several nights. Kovalenko had three goals and 12 points in 28 games with the Sharks.
We’ll see if he eventually tries to give the NHL another shot, but Kovalenko definitely has the talent to compete in this league. I was surprised he couldn’t land a deal with a team willing to give him a longer look than San Jose. Perhaps two years back in the KHL will do him well.
Kovalenko has admitted in the past that he was shocked to be traded by the Avalanche.
