Take heart knowing that neither guy you select at 87th or 109th OA in 2026 are ever going to play a meaningful role in the NHL and your blood pressure spike is for not.
Confirmed Trade: [MTL/NJD] Johnathan Kovacevic for a 2026 conditional 4th round pick (best of the 3)
- Thread starter MMC
- Start date
They have traded “earliest of the three”. They can still trade “second earliest of the three” and “latest of the three”.
Kinda seems to me like this trade brings the Devils most of the best qualities of the outbound Bahl and Smith and not much of the negative ones.
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 7,207
- 3,131
Plus-11 with 42 pm playing for the Canadians. Already an upgrade to last year's blueline in NJ. Assuming with his size there's some PK ability too?
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 7,207
- 3,131
In looking at his bio, was recruited to Merrimack by Devils director of amateur scouting Mark Dennehy.
Could be something to that.
Could be something to that.
Jared Dunn
Registered User
He's a fine #6 option but I figured of all the D he'd be the most likely to be lost on waivers. I'm surprised they got that high a pick
I'd hardly say shine, my biggest knock on him as he's not nearly as physical as he should be with his size
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
ReimanSum1908
Registered User
Very good value for the Devils. Kovacevic flies completely under the radar, but he's an ideal, low-cost bottom pairing defenseman who leaves you feeling comfortable when he's on the ice.
Agalloch
EliteProspects
I really liked Kovacevic, he's traded because of the logjam. That's it. Nothing to say against him.
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HuGort
Registered User
Americanadian
Registered User
I can see a deal around Mercer+Nemec for Tkachuk. Makes a ton of sense if Ottawa is actually open to move him.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
a 4th round pick two years from now might as well be nothing
that type of deal makes absolutely 0.0% sense for New Jersey.
Jared Dunn
Registered User
I must have imagined all those other rounds at the draft this weekend
He's a serviceable D-man, definitely worth a fourth. Take care of him NJ.
OldCraig71
Juice Arse
He was a combined +14 over 2 seasons on a bottom 5 team, he is good in a limited role, not flashy but solid, and won't hurt the team if used correctly.
HabsQC
Registered User
The fun part is that the Devils’ right side is logjammed too. They just traded RD Marino for picks because they’ve got too many RD (with Pesce seemingly a clock strike away).
A player with Kovacevic’s skill set on LD would probably secure a bottom-pairing role. On RD, he seemingly stands to be press box by default. Because he doesn’t outrank Hamilton, Necas, or Pesce.
Deam78
Registered User
- Aug 16, 2017
- 2,056
- 1,490
Honestly, good pick up by NJ. It's probably a round later than I would've hoped for, but just like Edmundson last year it was a necessity to move out bodies. Win-Win.
Good luck Kovy
Good luck Kovy
Bouboumaster
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2014
- 10,831
- 9,336
Seems like a good dude, not super talented with the puck but still a good player and he ain't shy at all to play a physical game
Solid #7 defenseman/"spare tire" player that can come in and fill a hole
I liked him on the team, but we're now on with what, like 10 defensemen it feels like?
Solid #7 defenseman/"spare tire" player that can come in and fill a hole
I liked him on the team, but we're now on with what, like 10 defensemen it feels like?
The condition of highest makes me think the draft number is the highest and not the lowest which is the . I wish it would read Montreal choice of the three teamss
Jared Dunn
Registered User
Don't see Engstrom or Reinbacher as realistic options next year so basically
left side: Guhle, Hutson, Matheson, Xhekaj, Struble, Harris
right side: Savard, Barron, Mailloux
One of Mailloux or Hutson starts in Laval just due to numbers/waivers, but even with that they still need to move a lefty.
