SAN JOSE – After he played his first game in over two weeks, forward Nikolai Kovalenko was asked what he’d like to do differently on Wednesday when the San Jose Sharks face the Minnesota Wild.
“It depends,” Kovalenko said Monday. “Will I play or not?”
Nothing is guaranteed, considering Kovalenko only got back into the lineup for Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames after winger and leading goal scorer Tyler Toffoli sat out with a lower-body injury. Kovalenko took Toffoli’s spot alongside standout rookies Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini.
However, Kovalenko, in his first game since March 22, drew some positive reviews from Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky following the team’s 3-2 loss to the Flames at SAP Center.
Playing in a top-six forward role again, Kovalenko admitted to some mistakes but also assisted on Smith’s first-period goal, had three hits, and finished with 15:39 in ice time — the most he’s had as a Shark — on a night that probably helped his confidence after he was a healthy scratch for six straight games.
“He played well tonight,” Warsofsky said of Kovalenko. “We’ll see about tomorrow tomorrow.”
Kovalenko was playing with Smith and Celebrini on Monday. But his tenure in San Jose has been uneven, at best, since he came to the Sharks in December in a multi-player, multi-draft pick trade that sent goalie Mackenzie Blackwood to the Colorado Avalanche.
After an encouraging start with the Sharks, Kovalenko dealt with injuries, reduced ice time, and multiple healthy scratches in his first full NHL season. Third-line winger Cam Lund has now played in seven straight games — taking away a precious lineup spot — since he left Northeastern after his junior year last month and signed his entry-level contract.
Warsofsky’s recent message to Kovalenko? “I think every time you’re on the ice, if it’s a practice, if it’s a morning skate, that’s your game,” he said. “You’re always being evaluated.”
Kovalenko said staying strong mentally has been key for him.
“For everybody who has perfect muscles, perfect speed, perfect skill for the NHL, and it’s just more important the mental (side),” he said. “I try working (on) myself with a therapist. So, try working with them and try working with myself too every time.”
Continuing with Wednesday’s game in Minnesota, which begins a four-game road trip for the Sharks, Kovalenko said he wants to continue to “focus on my game. Try to help my teammates score or be open a little bit quicker. A couple times, I made mistakes today, so I need to be a little bit smarter when I’m tired, because my mind turns off when I’m tired. So I need to (keep) the switch on.”
Kovalenko, a pending restricted free agent, now has 10 points in 24 games with the Sharks this season. From the Sharks’ perspective, he was a big part of the return in the Blackwood deal, which also fetched goalie Alexandar Georgiev and Colorado’s 2026 second-round selection, so San Jose’s brass would love to see Kovalenko become an every-game type of player.
It’s unclear if Toffoli will be able to return to play against the Wild. The Sharks also have upcoming road games against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, the Flames on Sunday and the Vancouver Canucks next Monday. The Sharks then close the season at home on April 16 against the Oilers.
When Toffoli does come back, Kovalenko could be moved to the third or fourth line or out of the Sharks’ lineup altogether.
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“I’m never thinking about showing my skills or something like that,” he said. “I think it’s more important to enjoy every time, enjoy the game, enjoy the moment. I know sometimes the situation’s not good, sometimes you’re not playing. But I think we have a not-too-long career in hockey, like 20 years, maybe more, like (Alex) Ovechkin. So I just try to enjoy this great place.”
RECORD SETTER: Celebrini assisted on both of Smith’s goals, giving him 35 assists on the season. That moved him past Pat Falloon for most assists by a rookie in Sharks history (34). Celebrini now has four assists in his last three games.
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