Canadiens trade Johnathan Kovacevic to Devils for draft pick

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Canadiens basic supervisor Kent Hughes introduced Sunday afternoon he has traded defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils in alternate for a fourth-round choose on the 2026 NHL Draft.

The 26-year-old Kovacevic is heading into the ultimate season of his three-year contract with a salary-cap hit of US$766,667. The Canadiens claimed the 6-foot-5, 223-pounder off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets shortly earlier than the beginning of the 2022-23 season.

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Kovacevic performed 62 video games with the Canadiens final season, posting 6-7-13 totals whereas averaging 16:31 of ice time per recreation. His plus-11 differential was one of the best on the workforce.

With an abundance of younger defencemen, the Canadiens not had room for Kovacevic on the blue line. He was made a wholesome scratch for 12 of the Canadiens’ final 28 video games final season, together with the season finale. There’s a very good likelihood Montreal would have ended up placing Kovacevic on waivers earlier than the beginning of subsequent season, through which case they might have acquired nothing in return if he was claimed by one other NHL workforce — which might have been virtually sure.

“On the finish of the day, you may solely management what you may management and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Kovacevic mentioned late within the season when requested about being made a wholesome scratch. “I’m happy with my work ethic and the way I’ve performed. You may make a mistake right here and there, however generally it’s simply the enterprise. They need different guys to play, so it’s what it’s.

“You need to play,” Kovacevic added. “I’m a hockey participant on the finish of the day. That competitors is what will get us going. It provides you goal, it makes you are feeling alive in a manner. It’s unlucky however, on the identical time, you may solely management what you may management.”

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Kovacevic remained an important teammate whether or not he was within the lineup or not and was very well-liked within the locker room. He had a detailed relationship with fellow defenceman Arber Xhekaj, since they each grew up in Hamilton. Xhekaj, who’s eligible to develop into a restricted free agent on Monday, acquired a qualifying supply from the Canadiens on Sunday in an effort to hold his rights. They did the identical for defenceman Justin Barron, who can also be eligible to develop into a restricted free agent. The Canadiens didn’t give qualifying presents to ahead Jesse Ylönen or defenceman Mattias Norlinder, permitting them to develop into unrestricted free brokers.

“These guys are my teammates, not my rivals,” Kovacevic mentioned close to the top of final season when requested in regards to the competitors for enjoying time. “I’m competing with myself … that’s the way in which I have a look at it. I do know what normal, what stage of play I need to aspire to and play to. A part of me, being one of the best participant, finest teammate I may be helps these guys increase their recreation. Serving to different folks really feel snug makes you are feeling higher, too. It simply makes you play for one thing greater than your self as a result of I’m taking part in for us to get a win. You’re at all times cheering to your teammates and if you play for one thing greater than your self that’s once I assume you may actually get higher, too, since you don’t have an ego about it. You’re not getting in your individual manner. You’re simply doing no matter it takes to assist the workforce win. And normally what it takes to assist the workforce win is taking part in your finest.”

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When requested close to the top of final season if he was making an attempt to show one thing to maintain a job for subsequent season, Kovacevic mentioned: “I strive not to consider that as a result of, on the finish of the day, you may solely management what you may management. I believed I used to be taking part in some good hockey and you then get taken out of the lineup and that’s less than me. It issues to me to maintain my very own scoreboard.

“You retain monitor about how you are feeling about your self, for those who performed properly, for those who didn’t play properly,” he added. “You must acknowledge your self for those who’re taking part in properly and for those who’re not it’s a must to be on your self as a result of, on the finish of the day, you may’t management whether or not you’re within the lineup or not and generally there’s different elements which may affect that. So simply targeted on myself.”

Kovacevic performed three seasons at Merrimack Faculty earlier than turning professional and earned a level in civil engineering. The Jets chosen him within the third spherical (74th general) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

scowan@postmedia.com

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