PHOTO: Bildbyrån
With the promise of a big and offensive role, scoring forward Robin Kovács returned home to the SHL and Linköping.
Now he wants to take the next step – both himself and with the club.
– As long as you are curious about learning new things, you will move forward, he says.
Robin Kovacs27, stepped forward and already delivered in his SHL debut with Linköping. A goal and an assist came from the stick of the Stockholmer in the victory against Brynäs last Saturday.
Kovacs back
In a big offensive role in a chain with the scoring machine Brock Little and center Patrick Russell21 goals, last season.
– Very important. That was what I was looking for when I decided to come home to Sweden. I felt that I would get this in Linköping from Klas (coach Östman), says Kovács, who returned home after two seasons in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Linköping will be his fourth SHL club after making his debut as a teenager in AIK. But in his last two clubs it has ended with black headlines.
READ MORE: Linköping’s clean gliding to the SHL match makes the whole of hockey Sweden laugh
The move from Luleå to Örebro took place in the middle of the season after it was leaked that he was ready for Närkeklubben the following season. The move from Örebro (to Lausanne) came after he was kicked out of the team despite being top scorer.
192 SHL points
In total, the forward has 192 points (81 goals+111 assists) in 286 games in the SHL (regular series+playoffs).
– In Luleå I had to be quite defensive and in Örebro I wasn’t defensive, but I didn’t get all my potential, says Kovács, who actually had one year left on his contract with Lausanne.
The striker, who has been open about his ADHD diagnosis, has always been outspoken and sometimes seen as messy. He himself says that he matured during his two years in Switzerland.
– A lot has happened in two years, I’ve had another child and got married. You develop all the time, day after day, says Kovács, who is married to Minatsu Muraseformer goalkeeper in Damkronorna, and the couple have three children.
READ MORE: When Niklas Wikegård reveals his real name, it’s not easy to keep from laughing – that’s what he would actually be called: “Don’t even dare to say”
He has signed a four-year contract with Linköping and still dreams of the NHL. He made a tryout as a 20-year-old, but stuck with the New York Rangers’ farm team Hartford and returned home.
– I feel that I have a few years left to get the chance over there.
Go for SM gold
But nowadays it is Linköping that applies. The club took a giant leap last season with their best regular season finish of sixth in seven years and a quarter-final spot.
Do you see a SM gold chance here?
– Absolutely, we have the team for it. We have a very strong offensive line. We have a mix of everything, even a good defensive one. A good balance in between, and we can absolutely join and fight for it.
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