Kivacevic is playing very well. NJ added him thinking he’d be a seventh guy and he’s playing as well as any defender on the team. I’m sure the NJ staff is as surprised as anyone. NJ is trying to win hence all the off season adds. Nemec will get his turn but NJ is past the point of prioritizing the development of young players over winning. Whether it works out for them we will see.
He’s not blocking anything. He outplayed Nemec to earn the spot on the team. That’s straight from the coach’s mouth.
No but he doesn’t need to be. He isn’t top 4 on the Devils either. He adds grit which is what was being requested in the op.
Teams are in different places, at the time of the trade we had 3 RHD with high expectations battling for the one spot, all with a higher ceiling than Kovacevic, not saying better today but in 2 years when we should be starting to compete, so he was never part of the long term plans, Could maybe have got more if they waited or could’ve got nothing if they had to put him on waivers. Unfortunately injuries have hit again and definitely looking more like another tank year which is fine.
Did Savard look better then Kovacevic last year? I struggle to see why he was kept instead of Kovy. Yeah Savard is older and a "veteran" but I'd think Skill > Veteran is more logical.
Savard played very well last year, has been brutal this year. Think the thought was good. Veteran presence for most of the season and a trade chip at the deadline, wouldn’t have much value with his current play unless there’s an extreme shortage of RHD on the market.
