Scouting Report - S. Kovalenko

[OblivionWalker 132]

 

Name: Stanislav Gregorovitch Kovalenko

Preferred name: Slava

Age: 19

Height: 6 foot 8

Weight: 218

Position: Defenseman

 

Currently playing for and captaining the Mississauga Hounds, Kovalenko leads all VHLM defensemen in points with 76 (22 goals and 54 assists) in the 56 games he's played so far this season. He is a plus 20 while on the ice and has three game winning goals, nine powerplay goals and one shorthanded goal. He also ranks fourth in shots blocked and seventh in the overall points leaders of the season 95 VHLM players. 

 

Positive: consistency

Over the season, Kovalenko has maintained an average of almost a point every game and has only had 6 games out of 56 where he did not have at least one point. Clearly, he can be depended on to contribute to his team.

 

Possible minus: hits

Kovalenko still has hits, 153 to be exact, but depends much more on his long reach to knock the puck away as opposed to body checking. However, this also means that he doesn't have nearly as many penalty minutes as another defenseman might. He's currently 21st in penalty minutes. If a team already has a body checking defenseman, then Kovalenko could be an excellent fit to balance that pairing so both don't find themselves in the box.

 

Positive: points

While not necessarily having as many goals as others, Kovalenko has found the back of the net over 20 times and with more games left to play, his total could reasonably be expected to go up. With his defensive vision high as well as excellent skating skills, Kovalenko scoops up loose pucks easily and either turns those into goals or passes them on to his teammates who in turn put those chances away. Kovalenko currently has a 12.57 shooting percentage, placing him seventh in the VHLM.

 

Possible minus: goals

If a team is looking for a true two-way defenseman, Kovalenko may not quite fit that build. However, if a team needed him to work on adding a wrist shot to his arsenal, there is no doubt that with his work ethic, such a thing could and would be worked on as he already has a fairly impressive slap shot.

 

In summation, there is very little not to like about Kovalenko's overall game and given his consistency, his ability to not only shoot but also block shots and get the loose pucks to an open teammate or put it away himself, he would be an excellent addition to most teams. Anyone finding themselves in need a of a defenseman would do well to give Kovalenko's agent a call to discuss things. Given how low his penalty minutes are as well, it also speaks to him not putting his team into uncomfortable situations, which mean a mature, consistent game which is impressive, given that this is only his second full season in the VHLM after just 12 games as a waiver wire pick up in season 94. If a hardworking, consistent and steady defenseman is what is required, then look no farther than Slava Kovalenko.

 

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