Confirmed with Link: Kovacevic Traded to the Devils for 2026 4th Round pick (Highest of the three 4th Rounders the Devils own)

[Ozmodiar]

A 4th in 2026, couldn't make it a 2025 pick? Major L for HuGo.

Disappointing weekend.

 

[Rapala]

How many people are aware of the fact that Hutson has to win his job in camp.
They aren't just going to hand it to him. I wouldn't be penciling him in just yet.

 

[HabbyGuy]

No one said anything about throwing anyone away for nothing. They just won't stick around if they fall behind other prospects on the depth chart. That is assets management.

No one's arguing if they fall behind they'll be left behind. But they're going to give them every opportunity not to be. No need to force it.

This is a huge year for both Harris and Barron if they want to stick around long term.

 

[26Mats]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807529595794522216

The pick will be the highest of the three fourth-rounders currently owned by the Devils in 2026.

Hughes doing Hughes things.

 

[donghabs98]

Terrible boring trade Kent. Where's all the complicated conditions on the pick! I want a 2026 4th pick that becomes a 2025 4th if the Devils score X amount of goals with Kovacevic on the ice and if the earth's global temperature is X degrees.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

Not great return for a very solid bottom-pairing defenseman, but the surfeit of players made it a necessary move to clear space. No complaints.

 

[26Mats]

How many people are aware of the fact that Hutson has to win his job in camp.
They aren't just going to hand it to him. I wouldn't be penciling him in just yet.

I have Hutson penciled on.

It's bcause he has to win the job in camp that I don't have him written in in pen.

 

[Treb]

A 4th in 2026, couldn't make it a 2025 pick? Major L for HuGo.

Already have 12 picks in 2025, including two 4th.

They only had 7 in 2026.

 

[Rapala]

Kovacevic is 6’5? Jesus I honestly never noticed.

I did when ever he got klunk footed which happened a lot.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Hi friends. Question from Jersey. Did Kovacevic ever penalty kill? Thanks.

 

[FLHabs]

Kovacevic was a serviceable bottom pairing/7th D for the Habs. He did have a really tough stretch during the back half of the year, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a long career as a journeyman 5th, 6th, 7th D in the NHL.

 

[Rapala]

I have Hutson penciled on.

It's bcause he has to win the job in camp that I don't have him written in in pen.

So when you post a projected line up he'll be greyed out some?

 

[MrNasty]

He would havebeen lost on waivers in October so glad they got something for him. A 4th is what he is worth. And it frees up a contract spot.

 

[Tyson]

Hi friends. Question from Jersey. Did Kovacevic ever penalty kill? Thanks.

Yes he did and was decent at it. He is a very serviceable #6 or #7 D

 

[OldCraig71]

@Habs will be pissed about this trade because it will mean that another soft Smurf will be drafted with that 4th-round pick because 60 percent of the time he's right all the time.

 

[Tyson]

Not great return for a very solid bottom-pairing defenseman, but the surfeit of players made it a necessary move to clear space. No complaints.

What should the return be for a 6/7 level Dman be?

He would havebeen lost on waivers in October so glad they got something for him. A 4th is what he is worth. And it frees up a contract spot.

Freeing up a contract spot is never a bad thing.

 

[Milhouse40]

Didn't expected much for a 7th Dman healthy scratch more often than not, so a 4th round pick seems like a ok return.....I would have been mad to give a 4th for a Kovacevic actually.

I really like the fact it's a 2026 pick and I hope that all the players he need to trade this year return pick in that year, building a year in advance seems like something Hugues has been doing since the start here....great strategy of asset management, make it easier.

 

[The Real Timo]

Hi friends. Question from Jersey. Did Kovacevic ever penalty kill? Thanks.

No. He was too busy leading offence and scoring on PP.

 

[Mrb1p]

Not sure what the point of this is. I guess they're going with Guhle at RD, lol.

 

[donghabs98]

Makes sense to move Kovacevic but he always felt like great value at 766K and a pretty ideal bottom pairing dman. Wishing him well with NJD

I wonder if this trade is both because we have a log jam but also to give him a chance to fully establish himself as a everyday player, with the Habs depth he'd be rotating in and out of the lineup.

Ultimately players like Kovacevic aren't gonna make or break this team and should be moved for picks if given the chance. We got him for free and can easily sign a depth D who can player every 4th game or just sit in the press box till an injury.

 

[The Great Weal]

Not sure what the point of this is.

They have like 15 defensemen that can take an NHL spot and we traded one of them for an asset

 

[HABitual Fan]

I like the trade, but just wonder if we couldn't have done this yesterday considering Holtz got moved for a 3rd. Would have preferred taking a flyer on him and adding a late pick to Kovy.

 

[Mrb1p]

Couldn't trade him for a 4th to grav Poirier? Damn.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

Hi friends. Question from Jersey. Did Kovacevic ever penalty kill? Thanks.

Sorry for the snark that you recieved in response to this question. He was second-unit penalty kill in Montreal. Matheson and Savard were leaned on heavily for PK duty.

 

[Tyson]

I like the trade, but just wonder if we couldn't have done this yesterday considering Holtz got moved for a 3rd. Would have preferred taking a flyer on him and adding a late pick to Kovy.

Have you seen Paul Cotter play? The Devils got a decent player in return for Holtz. Maybe the Habs had no interest in Holtz...