/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46557724/GettyImages-83665320.0.jpg)
One of my biggest pet peeves regarding the draft, and prospects in general, is when people with limited knowledge and viewings of a player try to evaluate them. Some good advice for evaluating hockey, and for life in general, is to know the limits of your knowledge. As such, I would be doing you a disservice to write an extensive scouting report on forward Robin Kovacs. Luckily, however, our European-based writer, Alex Nunn, has had extensive viewings of Kovacs. He is as qualified to speak about him as anyone you'll find. Consider this draft profile the work of Alex, with me providing some additional thoughts and doing the editing. And make sure to follow Alex on Twitter for some great insight on European prospects.
Robin Kovacs, AIK IF (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Vitals
Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
Age: 18 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'0, 172 lbs
2014-2015 Stats: 52 GP, 17 G, 11 A, 63 PIM, -6 +/-
Draft Rankings
NHL Central Scouting: 8th (EU Skaters)
International Scouting Services: 53rd
Corey Pronman (ESPN): 60th
Bob McKenzie (TSN): "Honorable Mention" (Outside top-75)
Craig Button (TSN): Outside top-100
Future Considerations: 51st
Hockey Prospect: 35th
Scouting Report
From Alex:
"Robin Kovacs was, by a distance, the outstanding player on an AIK roster that struggled badly last season after dropping out of the SHL. His 28 points led all club players and, as a result, the 18-year-old’s draft stock rose significantly through 2014/15.
Loose Comparables
Patric Hornqvist
Jesper Fast
Kovacs should be available around where the Rangers will be picking, unless there is one team that loves him a lot and takes him earlier, which is certainly possible. Why is he in the Rangers' range of late 2nd? Well, I'm honestly not sure. Hockey Service claims they were close to making him a top-30 talent, while Future Considerations ranks him as their "most underrated" player available in this draft. I think there's a concern on upside, perhaps. Kovacs seems like a guy who could easily end up as a second-third line tweener. But there is certainly top-six upside and perhaps even some hope as a low-end first-line winger. Kovacs fits the bill for what Anders Hedberg, the Rangers' Head European Scout, likes; a cerebral, 200-foot player with skating ability and hands.
Previous Draft Profiles