Sharks’ Nikolai Kovalenko sidelined with upper-body injury

The San Jose Sharks will be without right winger Nikolai Kovalenko for the immediate future due to an upper-body injury, reports Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Peng adds that Kovalenko will not return to the lineup until after the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, set to take place February 12-20 in Boston and Montreal.

Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in early December as part of the deal that shipped goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to Denver, Kovalenko has made 17 appearances with San Jose in which he has collected one goal and seven assists for eight points. In all, including Kovalenko’s time with the Avalanche this year, the 25-year-old native of Raleigh, N.C., has totaled five goals and 11 assists for 16 points through 45 showings.

Originally chosen by the Avalanche in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Kovalenko debuted with Colorado during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That season, he also saw four regular season contests with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s top minor-league affiliate, in which he finished with one goal and two assists for three points.

A dual citizen, Kovalenko competes with Russia internationally, underscored by his participation at the 2019 World Junior Championship where through six contests he posted one goal and two assists for three points en route to a bronze-medal finish.

Per PuckPedia, Kovalchenko is in the final year of a two-year contract that carries an $896,250 annual average value. Kovalenko is eligible to become a restricted free agent this coming offseason.

On the season, the rebuilding Sharks sit at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 15-33-6 record and 36 points. In all, San Jose has won just two of its past 10 outings but will look to return to the win column when the club retakes the ice Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.