The NHLPA Rookie Showcase takes place early in September every year out in Arlington, Virgina, bringing together some of the top young talent in the NHL set to make an impact the coming season. Each of the last two years, the Colorado Avalanche haven’t had any young players in their organization participate in the event, as they haven’t really had any rookies on the cusp of making the team. That should change this year, though.
Nikolai Kovalenko, who joined the Avalanche late in the season after spending the last handful of seasons in the KHL, was announced as an expected attendee for the event on Friday. Other players expected to take part in the event include a lot of former high draft picks, such as Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov, Artyom Levshunov, Will Smith, and Cutter Gauthier.
Here’s the full list of attendees, which is always subject to change.
Annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase coming up Sept. 4. Flyers forward Matvei Michkov and goalie Ivan Fedotov among those taking part. pic.twitter.com/tYvEwfkwGO
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) August 24, 2024
The event is closed to the public, but the NHLPA usually posts pictures and interviews after it takes place. Players are photographed for trading cards and show off their skills on the ice in a controlled environment.
Kovalenko is expected to make the NHL roster this season and should get a good opportunity to show what he can do when training camp rolls around. Gabriel Landeskog may or may not be ready when camp opens, Valeri Nichushkin will not be there, and it sounds like Artturi Lehkonen’s presence is very much up in the air, so there will be a spot on the wing up for grabs. Some have even put Kovalenko in the Calder Trophy conversation, but that would be a bit of a surprise.
The 24 year old winger played in two playoff games for the Avalanche, and got to spend some valuable time around the coaching staff during the second round. He picked up four points in six games with the Colorado Eagles after recovering from a knee injury, and put up 89 points in 98 games in the KHL over the last two seasons. He also led Torpedo in playoff scoring each of the last two seasons.
This NHLPA event will take place on Sept. 4, and we’ll probably find out soon if Kovalenko will take part in the Rookie Faceoff Tournament for the Avalanche. Rosters should be announced for that tournament any day now.