Confirmed Trade: [MTL/NJD] Johnathan Kovacevic for a 2026 conditional 4th round pick (best of the 3)

[McJedi]

I am indeed mad, but why do you even care?

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.

 

[tmg]

Not that it's a big issue, but the Devils handcuff themselves a bit by being unable to trade any of the 3 4th rounders for two seasons.

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.

 

[yianik]

Good 5-6-7 D man pick up by New Jersey for not much. But could he have fetched a 2nd at some point ? No. A third on a good day. So it's a 4th, big deal.

Wish him luck, seemes like a good guy and well liked by his teammates.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

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]

I'd give up Nemec and anyone not named Hughes to make this happen.

thank God you arent the GM

 

[Forge]

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?

Yep

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

In looking at his bio, was recruited to Merrimack by Devils director of amateur scouting Mark Dennehy.

Could be something to that.

 

[Jared Dunn]

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

Congrats Devils you got a good one, this is the kind of guy that will shine come playoff time imo

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]

Lmao I can’t believe they Devils spent a 2029 12th rounder on this guy FLEECED

 

[ReimanSum1908]

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]

I really liked Kovacevic, he's traded because of the logjam. That's it. Nothing to say against him.

 

[HuGort]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807527031191527636

Habs had too many defense men.

 

[Americanadian]

I'd give up Nemec and anyone not named Hughes to make this happen.

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]

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

a 4th round pick two years from now might as well be nothing

I can see a deal around Mercer+Nemec for Tkachuk. Makes a ton of sense if Ottawa is actually open to move him.

that type of deal makes absolutely 0.0% sense for New Jersey.

 

[Jared Dunn]

a 4th round pick two years from now might as well be nothing

I must have imagined all those other rounds at the draft this weekend

 

[Jee]

He's a serviceable D-man, definitely worth a fourth. Take care of him NJ.

 

[OldCraig71]

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.

 

[Treb]

Not that it's a big issue, but the Devils handcuff themselves a bit by being unable to trade any of the 3 4th rounders for two seasons.

Just need to be a conditional as well.

 

[HabsQC]

Not the one I would've trade. I actually liked him. GL in NJ

 

[tmg]

I really liked Kovacevic, he's trading because of the logjam. That's it. Nothing to say against him.

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]

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

 

[Bouboumaster]

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?

 

[Goal Caufield50]

Not that it makes a huge difference but NJ owns three 4th rounders in 2026 and the Habs are getting whichever is earliest:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807530759131189645

Not surprised by this as Hughes is a stickler for whatever add-ons he can get. Only thing unexpected is that he didn’t draw up a litany of contractual clauses to express it.

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]

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?

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.

 

[Aoko]

The best Kovy in New Jersey history.