Value of: Jonathan Kovacevic

[canuckslover10]

Johnathan Kovacevic's salary is $775,000 and his cap hit is $766,667 for the 2023-24 season. He is a 26 year old defense who was born on Jul. 12, 1997. He was drafted 74th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 3rd round of the 2017 entry draft. He has signed 3 contracts worth a total value of $4,900,000. Over a career that spans 2 seasons (with at least 1 NHL GP), he has a total 15 Pts in 81 GP. He will be a UFA at the end of the 2024-25 season when he is 27 years old.(summary on capfriendly)

Also he's 6'4 208lbs again according to capfriendly

He is playing quality minutes for the Habs but you wonder what a contending team would be willing to give up for a cost controlled defenseman.

Considering they have Barron, Mailoux, Reinbacher, and Hutson in the pipeline. The Habs may be able to afford to let him go especially if the price is worth it but what would that price be?

 

[hurdemz]

Sounds like he may be worth a later round pick. 5th or 6th rounder to a team who needs some depth

 

[canuckslover10]

Sounds like he may be worth a later round pick. 5th or 6th rounder to a team who needs some depth

Idk a 5th seems quite cheap cause if that was the case I'd love for the Canucks to take advantage of that price.

 

[Lockin17]

Would not take less then a 3rd rd pick,
But again a cheap RHD like Kova you keep him.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He's a decent 3rd pairing defenseman.

Probably a 4th-5th if Montreal wanted to move him.

 

[Captain97]

In a vacuum probably worth a 5th or 6th. Because of lack of capspace league wide probably would want a 3rd. He is better than most players making basically league minimum

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

This is a next year conversation, IMO. Mailloux needs at least 1 full season in the AHL and Reinbacher is playing this season in Switzerland.

The Habs have the market cornered on picks the next 2 drafts and a village of B-C type prospects. I don't think they would trade Johnny Kovy for another one at this point. The contract is too valuable. They are at the point where they need to package 4-5 assets together to get an A caliber asset and it's clear some of their young D's will be in that deal.

 

[Hins77]

Last year he got 15 pts +3 on a losing team where most of the team were in the negative.. he has value. He cost absolutely nothing for another one season. Nothing less than a 3rd pick

 

[AslanRH]

Seth Jones @ 50%

 

[BLNY]

In a vacuum probably worth a 5th or 6th. Because of lack of capspace league wide probably would want a 3rd. He is better than most players making basically league minimum

I'd argue he's better than a lot of guys making 2-3 times what he is. He's not fancy, but he has very good mobility and routinely makes a smart play.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Kulak went for a 2nd, same for Durzi, I think you d be looking at a similar price . Kulikov went for a 3rd and I d prefer to have Kovacevic than Kulikov right now to be frank.

Add to that that he has 2 more years at this great contract for a bottom 6 for any contender.

 

[BLNY]

Johnathan Kovacevic's salary is $775,000 and his cap hit is $766,667 for the 2023-24 season. He is a 26 year old defense who was born on Jul. 12, 1997. He was drafted 74th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 3rd round of the 2017 entry draft. He has signed 3 contracts worth a total value of $4,900,000. Over a career that spans 2 seasons (with at least 1 NHL GP), he has a total 15 Pts in 81 GP. He will be a UFA at the end of the 2024-25 season when he is 27 years old.(summary on capfriendly)

Also he's 6'4 208lbs again according to capfriendly

He is playing quality minutes for the Habs but you wonder what a contending team would be willing to give up for a cost controlled defenseman.

Considering they have Barron, Mailoux, Reinbacher, and Hutson in the pipeline. The Habs may be able to afford to let him go especially if the price is worth it but what would that price be?

Barron hasn't had a great camp. Mailloux is loaned to Laval, where he'll get a year of playing top 4 minutes. That's not a reflection of his play. He had a very strong camp. Reinbacher is back in Europe for the year. Hutson hasn't had a camp yet.

This isn't the time to consider it. In fact, I'd sooner play out the year, buyout Savard next summer, and keep Kovacevic.

 

[dirtydanglez]

4th or later

 

[pth2]

I think his value would scare off most other teams, he's playing like a top 4 now and his being cost controlled makes his value higher than expected.

I expect Montreal is more likely to move Barron than him, though. Kovacevic is perfect as a 3d pair behind high talent players, whereas Barron, Reinbacher and Mailloux are/will be all top 4 types if they work out.

This isn't the time to consider it. In fact, I'd sooner play out the year, buyout Savard next summer, and keep Kovacevic.

Buyout?!?

 

[BLNY]

I think his value would scare off most other teams, he's playing like a top 4 now and his being cost controlled makes his value higher than expected.

I expect Montreal is more likely to move Barron than him, though. Kovacevic is perfect as a 3d pair behind high talent players, whereas Barron, Reinbacher and Mailloux are/will be all top 4 types if they work out.


Buyout?!?

Guhle is carrying his water for him. The game is simply too fast for Savard on too many nights. Next year is the last year of his deal. Buy him out, as I don't see any takers, and move on.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Trade market is all the way f***ed up

No player making over 2.5 million is worth anything unless salary is going back the other way

A depth NHL player like Kovacevic, with size, playing a position of importance, at 750k for the next 2 full seasons, would take a very enticing offer to move on from in the current cap climate.

Hard to place a value on him because Montreal needs RHD this year, so they would want someone coming back in to replace him. Pure pick value I would think a 3rd just because of his contract, but I personally wouldn't take less than a 2nd because there is no need to move him just to rush prospects.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

He won’t be traded. Good bottom pairing dman on cheap contract.

 

[Captain Mountain]

I mean, if people think he's only worth a 4th-6th, then its not even worth Montreal picking up the phone. They don't need late round picks and even if he wasn't an effective D-man (he is), its hard to get a cheaper player.

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

I still can’t believe we waived Kovacevic to save Kuhlman and/or Capobianco. Incredibly short-sighted move by Chevy.

 

[pth2]

Guhle is carrying his water for him. The game is simply too fast for Savard on too many nights. Next year is the last year of his deal. Buy him out, as I don't see any takers, and move on.

I expect at the 2025 deadline he'll be a highly prized asset. At the very least worth a 2nd or 3d.

 

[canuckslover10]

Barron hasn't had a great camp. Mailloux is loaned to Laval, where he'll get a year of playing top 4 minutes. That's not a reflection of his play. He had a very strong camp. Reinbacher is back in Europe for the year. Hutson hasn't had a camp yet.

This isn't the time to consider it. In fact, I'd sooner play out the year, buyout Savard next summer, and keep Kovacevic.

I meant coming up through the pipeline so there might be an opportunity to get some assets rather than buying out Savard.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

He's got a better pass than I thought he would. I figured that would be trash and was bias towards him and his ability to pass, but it's solid.

Obviously it isn't like Karlsson, but for a bottom pairing dman it's pretty good.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I still can’t believe we waived Kovacevic to save Kuhlman and/or Capobianco. Incredibly short-sighted move by Chevy.

He's really solid , we were surprised as well when we realised he can be a regular NHLer. Jets have always been size queens too so it was a bit puzzling

 

[TF1970]

this guy is a really solid player. great option for your third pair. underrated imo.

 

[BLNY]

I meant coming up through the pipeline so there might be an opportunity to get some assets rather than buying out Savard.

Just not the right time.

I expect at the 2025 deadline he'll be a highly prized asset. At the very least worth a 2nd or 3d.

Given how Edmundson's value plummeted, albeit due to significant injury issues, I don't think we can bank on Savard having that sort of value in 18 months. When healthy, Edmundson is the better player imo.