Confirmed with Link: Jonathan Kovacevic traded to NJ for 2026 4th

[Guadana]

It's an interesting theory. I liked it more with Smith who could actually put an effective shift in at forward and serve a role as a PK D, but they rarely actually used him that way. I'm less enthused by 7D when it's a real rotation. But I could buy an argument that Kovacevic taking 9 minutes away from the other 6 D and giving more minutes to our top forward leads to more wins than Bastian or Foote skating around for that same time.

This is like I see it as one of the way the potentially can go. Our forth line doesnt look very solid and effective potentially - as offensively, as defensively. Kovacevich can play minor defensive starts and play PK role to rotate Hamilton/Nemec minutes. Of course this is an only one way they can try.

 

[Emperoreddy]

So anyone want to take a stab at why the f*** the Habs gave us this gift?

 

[Nubmer6]

So anyone want to take a stab at why the f*** the Habs gave us this gift?

Because Kovacevic doesn't speak French

 

[Hisch13r]

So anyone want to take a stab at why the f*** the Habs gave us this gift?

I mean I assume their (dumb) reasoning was they saw their right side having Reinbacher, Barron, Mailloux with Savard as the vet and thought Kovacevic was expendable to them. Still dumb reasoning as Reinbacher was 19, Mailloux was 21, and Barron was 22. None were established NHLers yet and none really guys where they were absolute locks to make it. Kovacevic on the other hand was only 27 and had given them 2 good years on a bad team. Like it should've been you go into the year with Kovy and Savard then the young guys battling it out for a spot. If multiple guys look ready then you can move on from Kovy if you want,

 

[Triumph]

I mean I assume their (dumb) reasoning was they saw their right side having Reinbacher, Barron, Mailloux with Savard as the vet and thought Kovacevic was expendable to them. Still dumb reasoning as Reinbacher was 19, Mailloux was 21, and Barron was 22. None were established NHLers yet and none really guys where they were absolute locks to make it. Kovacevic on the other hand was only 27 and had given them 2 good years on a bad team. Like it should've been you go into the year with Kovy and Savard then the young guys battling it out for a spot. If multiple guys look ready then you can move on from Kovy if you want,

Barron's waiver-eligible so that's a guy they wanted to keep. I think the issue for them was that if Kovacevic were ever to be the odd man out, he wouldn't bring back anything in trade - they got him off waivers to begin with - and he couldn't've been in their plans past this season.

It's a bad trade, but who knew Kovacevic had this sort of game in him - I doubt the Devils did.

 

[devilsblood]

Barron's waiver-eligible so that's a guy they wanted to keep. I think the issue for them was that if Kovacevic were ever to be the odd man out, he wouldn't bring back anything in trade - they got him off waivers to begin with - and he couldn't've been in their plans past this season.

It's a bad trade, but who knew Kovacevic had this sort of game in him - I doubt the Devils did.

Which begs the question: Did the Devils expect him to force Nemec out of the lineup?

I would say no, but maybe they were wary of too young guys playing big D minutes.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I think they expected Kovacevic to be the 7th and to "compete" in camp - light a fire under Nemec and make him feel like his spot isn't safe even though it probably is.

The combination of the offseason injury, Casey having the camp of his life, and Kovacevic being a secret Norris winner was kind of a nightmare scenario for Nemec.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Which begs the question: Did the Devils expect him to force Nemec out of the lineup?

I would say no, but maybe they were wary of too young guys playing big D minutes.

I think they expected Kovacevic to be the 7th and to "compete" in camp - light a fire under Nemec and make him feel like his spot isn't safe even though it probably is.

The combination of the offseason injury, Casey having the camp of his life, and Kovacevic being a secret Norris winner was kind of a nightmare scenario for Nemec.

You guys are overthinking this. Fitz has said the Kovacevic trade kind of fell into his lap. Keefe has said Kovacevic was supposed to be their 7th D.

They brought him in out of opportunity and to be solid D depth and he outperformed that. Simple as that

 

[AfroThunder396]

You guys are overthinking this. Fitz has said the Kovacevic trade kind of fell into his lap. Keefe has said Kovacevic was supposed to be their 7th D.

They brought him in out of opportunity and to be solid D depth and he outperformed that. Simple as that

That's literally what I said - to be a 7th D and compete in camp. That's what depth defensemen do.

 

[devilsblood]

You guys are overthinking this. Fitz has said the Kovacevic trade kind of fell into his lap. Keefe has said Kovacevic was supposed to be their 7th D.

They brought him in out of opportunity and to be solid D depth and he outperformed that. Simple as that

Which roundabouts to NJ, like Montreal, and apparently the rest of the league, didn't really view him as a legit top 4 defensive d-man.

Even though there were some stats that suggest he could have been. Some of the Montreal fans thought it was possible too.

Still I always find it Interesting how guys can be placed into situations where they perform well above expectations.

 

[devilsblood]

Another interesting question which arises is:

If Luke and Pesce were healthy out of the gate, does Sieg's get paired with Hamilton and Dillon with Nemec, thereby never giving Kova the opportunity?

 

[Whaddagoal]

Which roundabouts to NJ, like Montreal, and apparently the rest of the league, didn't really view him as a legit top 4 defensive d-man.

Even though there were some stats that suggest he could have been. Some of the Montreal fans thought it was possible too.

Still I always find it Interesting how guys can be placed into situations where they perform well above expectations.

Another interesting question which arises is:

If Luke and Pesce were healthy out of the gate, does Sieg's get paired with Hamilton and Dillon with Nemec, thereby never giving Kova the opportunity?

I think definitely both. Overachieving per "league view" expectations, and circumstance....... and a bit of contextual (which no one understands yet, maybe we will as the year or years go on).

I agree with you, its not we were so excessively smart, we probably had some baseline similar expectations as Montreal and other teams that were watching him. One of those times where just a stone is polished and ends up being really fine.

Circumstance being that Nemec came into camp hurt (that was HIS fault for choosing to play that NT game vs Kazakhstan -or whatever game he got injured in only 2 weeks before camp), Luke getting hurt, etc.

The contextual reasons, which none of us understand the truth of, but probably the mix of:
-Coaching
-Teammates (just a great bunch over here )
-Location (out of limelight or other reasons why NJ could be awesome fit)
-Kovacevic's personal work ethic / motivational reasons (playing for bigger contract, or just happy to be on a team that seemed to WANT him)

Whatever the deal is, i don't want it to stop. He is so good and I'm willing to re-sign him up if he continues to be so impactful.

This guy is at 6'5" (fridge built like MacDermid-esque), who can play good D, solid character, etc. hard working, physical (but not psycho).... not easy to find in the league, i don't think we should move on from him if there is such solid success.

Again, very early stages, but I'm ready to not let him go as of today.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Still I always find it Interesting how guys can be placed into situations where they perform well above expectations.

I don’t think it’s that surprising especially for defensive defensemen. Being a good defensive defensemen doesn’t require much pure skill. Mostly comes from being able to take up space, having the right mindset and playing smart.

 

[devilsblood]

I don’t think it’s that surprising especially for defensive defensemen. Being a good defensive defensemen doesn’t require much pure skill. Mostly comes from being able to take up space, having the right mindset and playing smart.

This makes it sound like any big guy can be a shutdown defenseman.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

This makes it sound like any big guy can be a shutdown defenseman.

No it doesn’t. A lot of guys have the potential from a physical standpoint. But it’s hard to do mentally. Takes a lot of focus.

 

[devilsblood]

No it doesn’t. A lot of guys have the potential from a physical standpoint. But it’s hard to do mentally. Takes a lot of focus.

Skating skill is very important. Good hand eye is also important.

I do agree being big is helpful. As is smarts and the right mindset.

But no one thought Kova would be playing this well. Yet here we are. I'd say it's rather surprising.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Skating skill is very important. Good hand eye is also important.

I do agree being big is helpful. As is smarts and the right mindset.

But no one thought Kova would be playing this well. Yet here we are. I'd say it's rather surprising.

Skating is very helpful but some of the best defensive defensemen aren’t great skaters. Siegenthaler’s skating is comfortably below average.

I don’t know why you’re bringing up size considering I never once mentioned it tho. That’s not what I mean when I talk about taking up a lot of space although it helps with that

 

[devilsblood]

Skating is very helpful but some of the best defensive defensemen aren’t great skaters. Siegenthaler’s skating is comfortably below average.

I don’t know why you’re bringing up size considering I never once mentioned it tho. That’s not what I mean when I talk about taking up a lot of space although it helps with that

I thought that's what you meant.

What do you mean?

 

[My3Sons]

Skating is very helpful but some of the best defensive defensemen aren’t great skaters. Siegenthaler’s skating is comfortably below average.

I don’t know why you’re bringing up size considering I never once mentioned it tho. That’s not what I mean when I talk about taking up a lot of space although it helps with that

To my eyes Siegs looks to be skating very nimbly this season. He is moving the puck rather well in terms of sure handedness and confidence. It’s nice to see.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I thought that's what you meant.

What do you mean?

I mean just being able to take up a lot of ice in the sense that forwards don’t have any time and space out there. They can’t make plays because wherever they go the dman is meeting them. It’s far and away the biggest thing to being elite defensively. Watching Pesce the last few games has been a great example of it. He’s not a great skater or even huge but every single time the forwards get the puck he’s right there in front of them.

Once you have a base level of skill it comes down 90% to mentality and just smarts and being able to read the play, play the right angles and timing. A lot of guys in and even outside of the NHL are at that base level and if they get the right opportunity and figure out the timing and how to play like that consistently they can be great defensively.

To my eyes Siegs looks to be skating very nimbly this season. He is moving the puck rather well in terms of sure handedness and confidence. It’s nice to see.

He’s moving the puck much better. Not sure if it’s the coaching or if he just realized over the summer that it’s much more effective to try and make a play rather than just rimming it every time. That’s was torture to watch.

 

[Guadana]

Being in the right place and right time is important. Kovachevic did everything well and was lucky to be paired with Siegs. Absolutely good complimentation for each for defensive role. Nemec was just return after injury and paired with raw Casey who created mistakes in live and created good chances in o zone in the same time. So until everything works Kovacevic should be used. May be even signed. Hamiltons NMC will change in status. Good defensive defensemen don't eat a lot of salary and truly are bread and butter of big wins. Devils already have Luke for regular PP role and Nemec will handle 2PP role. Nemec should be saved - Hamilton isn't forever here. He is already 5th in 5on5 ice time. And created more dangerous situations than Nemec did.

Keefe and Fitz should talk with Nemec. If he wants to stay with big club - they should give him ice time and role, at least in some games. Or if he is okay - give him all the time in Utica - he will have a lot of practice there.