Kovalenko appeared in two games during Colorado's opening series win over Winnipeg but will head to the press box for the Avalanche's opening game in Dallas. The 24-year-old will be replaced by Chris Wagner after failing to pick up a point while averaging just below 7 minutes TOI.
Kovalenko suffered the injury towards the end of the KHL season and will report to the Eagles for further rehabilitation before potentially getting a look at the NHL level. Kovalenko is yet to make his NHL debut but has impressed in his last few KHL seasons. The 24-year-old winger had 11 goals and 24 assists in 42 games with the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo this season.
Kovalenko had 21 goals, 33 assists, 36 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 56 games with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Colorado. The 23-year-old Russian winger was the Avalanche's 2018 sixth-round pick (171st overall) and is currently loaned out for another season to Torpedo for the 2023-24 season.
