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.
Yea I get it but I think there is enough grit on the D. A top 4 RHD is a far more pressing need. One with about 2 years left on his deal. That would give time for Mailloux and Reinbacher time to develop. I think the grit is more needed in the bottom 6.
I honestly think he would have hit waivers if he remained in Montreal. Happy to see him doing well in New Jersey but I doubt he was replicating that success here
De Haan is a left handed bttom pairing defenseman, doesn't filll the need for physical/stay at home RHD.
There is no chance Montreal throw 2x high 2nd at Lindgren, even with 2x late third coming back.
He was not steady enough to be in the top 4 and we need someone to eat minutes while we ease in Mailloux and Reinbacher over the next two years. Something Kovacevic is unable to do on a longer period of time
Honestly yes and not even close. Savard was a legit 2nd pair option last year and he's been almost an extra coach for their young blue line
He was 22th in points from 2007-2008 to 2014-2015 amongst NHL C, so in a way you could say he was a low-end #1C in that 8 seasons time span, specially considering he was solid in his own zone.
Ok, but it would be more accurate to say he was a good #2C as most of the time Saku was the actual #1C, though neither was ever a true #1C based on their offensive ability. Both good two way guys though
Saku Koivu stopped playing from Montreal in 2008-2009, I talked about the 2007-2008 to 2014-2015 timeline.
Ok, fair enough, I wouldn't argue that he didn't have #1C ice time, just that they were both better suited as #2C's, much like Suzuki
That I agree, he would have better suited for #2C on a contender. But he definitely was a #1 C for a good chunk of his career, albeit, like I said, a low end one.
