Sun, Jun 30, 2024 at 5:44pm

DEVILS GET KOVACEVIC

The New Jersey Devils acquired defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic from the Montreal Canadians for a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2026.

What does it give the New Jersey Devils
Kovacevic is a depth defenseman who battled for playing time in Montreal. When in the lineup, he offered defensive responsibility and played a role on the penalty kill. With the Devils targeting Brett Pesce, he could also be in tough to find ice time in New Jersey. He will be great depth to have when injuries occur.

What does it give the Montreal Canadiens
The Habs had a log jam on the back end with many of their young draft picks starting to push for playing time. For this reason, Kovacevic became expendable. Montreal gets a fourth-round draft pick for a player they claimed off waivers from Winnipeg (and turned into an NHL blueliner).

Fantasy impact
Kovacevic has not been able to fully establish himself in an NHL lineup. For this reason, and also his focus on defense, Kovacevic is not a fantasy option.