CANADIENS TRADE DEFENCEMAN AHEAD OF FREE AGENCY
The Montreal Canadiens have traded defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic, just a day before free agency opens.
The right-handed defenceman was originally claimed on waivers from the Winnipeg Jets, serving as a fantastic depth option for a young blue line that had very little professional experience. The right-handed defencemen ended up producing great numbers alongside Jordan Harris in his first season, but had a hard time finding a permanent role due to the defensive logjam.
Kovacevic also provided a calming presence in the locker room, maintaining a jovial attitude regardless of the difficulties involved in playing for a rebuilding team.
It’s also worth noting the Canadiens have an abundance of talent on the back-end, with several prospects knocking on the door of a blue line that’s already one of the youngest in the league. Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, and Justin Barron are all eying an increased role on the right side, while Lane Hutson, Adam Engstrom, and Jayden Struble are set to provide reinforcements on the left.
The Canadiens will receive a fourth-round pick (2026) return from the New Jersey Devils, a respectable, if not unspectacular return for the 26-year-old defenceman.
This is the second trade that the Canadiens have made with the Devils in recent months, as they also sent veteran goaltender Jake Allen to New Jersey at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
Regardless of the return, seeing as the Montreal Canadiens used no assets to acquire Kovacevic in the first place, not to mention the two years of excellent service he provided to the team, it’s fair to say that the waiver pickup ended up being a stroke of genius that was originally born out of desperation, which is always a nice surprise in the salary-cap landscape.
We would like to thank Kovacevic for his hard work in Montreal and wish him well as he looks to take the next step in his NHL career.
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2024-06-30T22:12:41Z dg43tfdfdgfd
