Trade Kovacevic traded to New Jersey for a 2026 fourth-round pick

[Dalhabs]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/montreal-canadiens-trade-johnathan-kovacevic-to-new-jersey-devils-for-2026-fourth-round-pick-1.2142648

[JoeLassister]

Meh. Thought he could stick around as 6-7 for a while, but… meh. 

[hab29RETIRED]

I thought we'd be moving the LHD first? 

[Commandant]

I dont get why hed be the first out the door.  Would have guessed a left d.  But someone had to go.

[Sir_Boagalott]

I'm somewhat bummed to see him go but it was unlikely he'd be around long term anyway. 

 

Apparently, they decided to keep Savard until the trade deadline.  I imagine they moved Honda Civic to make room for Reinbacher or Mailloux and possibly both.  Personally, I'd split them next year and play each 41 games plus or minus injuries.  Now that 1 rhd is gone they have room to do that.

[DON]

Interesting.

Mailloux or Reinbacher 'pencilled" in on right side?

[Commandant]

3 minutes ago, Sir_Boagalott said:

Honda Civic

 

Thats an amazing auto correct.

[Commandant]

The more i think about it

 

Guhle and Harris played RD last year.

 

Mailloux, Reinbacher, and Barron all will push for a RD spot.

 

Hutson could play RD as well as LD.

 

I guess one D had to go and Kovacevic had low upside and is UFA in a year.

[TurdBurglar]

You would have to assume this is to give Barron more NHL ice-time. 

[Commandant]

Just now, TurdBurglar said:

You would have to assume this is to give Barron more NHL ice-time. 

 

Or a spot for Reinbacher.

Or a spot for Mailloux

Or Harris/Struble go RD and a left spot opens for Hutson.

 

I see it as a multi-player battle.

[TurdBurglar]

2 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

Or a spot for Reinbacher.

Or a spot for Mailloux

Or Harris/Struble go RD and a left spot opens for Hutson.

 

I see it as a multi-player battle.

I was assuming Harris is probably playing RD alongside Guhle, leaving the bottom pair RD for Barron.  Reinbacher/Mailloux/Hutson are probably AHL bound unless they pleasantly surprise at camp.  Barron is 22, will be signing a new contract, and has everything to prove on this deal. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Of all the Dmen this could have been, I’m disappointed that it’s Kovasevic. 
 

Good luck buddy

[Commandant]

He may have an advantage because of age and experience but im just saying dont assume that Barron will be handed the spot without earning it in camp.

 

They probably dont want all 3 rookies coming on the team at the same time again as this will be a team looking for playoffs not a draft pick, so taking one of mailloux, reinbacher, Hutson and spreading out their rookie seasons could make sense.

[hab29RETIRED]

1 hour ago, Commandant said:

I dont get why hed be the first out the door.  Would have guessed a left d.  But someone had to go.

If we were going to move depth D, I would have thought it would be on the side we need to create room. I also thought, if we were going to move someone it would be Savard, a few weeks back Friedman said there was a lot of interest in Savard and that Colorado had really strong interest. 
 

anyways the deal (or signing), I'm waiting for is moving one of the higher value young D in a package for a scoring winger. It's too bad Holtz was moved, he was one of the guys I would have liked to take a flyer on.

[hab29RETIRED]

15 minutes ago, TurdBurglar said:

You would have to assume this is to give Barron more NHL ice-time. 

I think they have to give him NHL time, or move him - isn't he going to need waivers next year?

[Prime Minister Koivu]

I liked Kovasevic’s game but it’s not like he was going to be a star. 
 

Not to mention that we got an asset for a player that was free to us

[Sir_Boagalott]

20 minutes ago, hab29RETIRED said:

I think they have to give him NHL time, or move him - isn't he going to need waivers next year?

 

I think Barron will need waivers next year.

 

In Hughes' desire to free up a rhd spot he might have preferred moving Barron.  Before the draft he was trying to got an established F.  After the draft and trading for picks he was likely getting lowball offers for Barron like:  "give you a 3rd for him"; Hughes "no way in hell"; and eventually a GM said "give you a 4th for Kovacevic";  Hughes "done".

 

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

26 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I liked Kovasevic’s game but it’s not like he was going to be a star. 
 

Not to mention that we got an asset for a player that was free to us

That's how I feel, limited upside, got a pick for a player who cost us nothing plus it creates some room for the younger guys. I wish him well. Was a good soldier for the Habs.

[dlbalr]

42 minutes ago, Commandant said:

Or a spot for Reinbacher.

Or a spot for Mailloux

Or Harris/Struble go RD and a left spot opens for Hutson.

 

I see it as a multi-player battle.

 

Or is there a short-term veteran they want to bring in that they needed a spot for?  That probably can't be discounted although your scenarios are more likely.

 

28 minutes ago, hab29RETIRED said:

I think they have to give him NHL time, or move him - isn't he going to need waivers next year?

 

Barron is waiver-eligible.

[IN THE HEARTS OF MEN]

I think one of Barron, Struble, Harris, Xhekaj will also get traded, 

 

I can't see Hutson playing anywhere but Montreal next season

[Neech]

Would have rather kept him around, seems like a great depth RHD. Ultimately not a very big deal, though.

[Meller93]

6 hours ago, Commandant said:

 

Thats an amazing auto correct.

Might be a reference to hockey junkie on YouTube who always calls him Honda civic hahah. Good YouTuber, fellow Newfoundlander like myself 

[DON]

I liked him as a player, but was he simply a 3rd pairing guy, not quite capable of playing 20 minutes/gm.

Hope he does well in Jersey, just not vs the Habs.

[alfredoh2009]

I'll miss the kid, it was cool to have an engineer on defense for a little bit

[DON]

Habs trade Johnathan Kovacevic to Devils – HabsWorld.net

 

"On the one hand, it might seem odd that the Habs accepted a 2026 draft pick.  However, they already have 12 picks for 2025 so it makes some sense that they’re looking to start stockpiling options for the following draft.  This move helps clear up some of Montreal’s logjam but with the majority of their options being left-shot players, it wouldn’t be shocking if one of those is dealt at some point as well."