With the 171st pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Colorado Avalanche select Nikolai Kovalenko of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. Nikolai is the son of one-time Avalanche Andrei Kovolenko.
At 5’10, 170 Kovalenko is a left-shooting right winger that has great hands and is able to make plays through traffic. He’s a puck-handler that has great awareness on the ice and the stickhandling ability to maintain possession for his team. He was also used as a penalty killer this past season.
He had 10 goals ad 31 points through 33 games in the MHL this season before suiting up with Lokomotiv for four KHL playoff games.