The New Jersey Devils and president/general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced today that the team acquired defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. New Jersey will transfer him best of any of the three 2026 fourth-round picks New Jersey currently holds (Dallas’ fourth in 2026, Winnipeg’s fourth in 2026 or New Jersey’s fourth in 2026) to Montreal, once the final draft order. for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Kovacevic, 26, completed his third season in the NHL and second with Montreal. The 6’5”, 225 lbs. The defenseman recorded 13 points (6g-7a) in 62 games last year. He recorded a career-high 42 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +11 rating, while his six goals marked a career-high. Additionally, his plus-11 rating ranked first for all Montreal skaters in 2023-24. Kovacevic has one year left on a three-year, $3.2 million contract he signed on July 22, 2022, which carries a salary cap hit of $766,667 this season.
The right-handed shooter made his NHL debut on Jan. 27, 2022, with Winnipeg and has played in 143 career NHL games, tallying 28 points (9g-19a), with 83 penalty minutes and a plus-15 rating. Kovacevic played parts of four seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Manitoba from 2018-19 through 2021-22. The Hamilton, Ontario native totaled 58 career points (18g-40a) in 137 regular season games with Manitoba and played in five Calder Cup Playoff games during the 2021-22 season.
Born July 12, 1997, Winnipeg drafted Kovacevic in the third round, 74th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Prior to his professional experience, he played three collegiate seasons, from 2016-17 to 2018-19, at Merrimack College (Hockey East). Kovacevic was named assistant captain and led the team with 14 assists during his final season at Merrimack. He totaled 54 career points (9g-45a) in 101 games with the team.