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Johnathan Kovacevic

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Johnathan Kovacevic
Born (1997-07-12) July 12, 1997 (age 27)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 223 lb (101 kg; 15 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
Winnipeg Jets
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 74th overall, 2017
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2019–present

Johnathan Kovacevic (born July 12, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round, 74th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Kovacevic has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

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Winnipeg Jets

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Kovacevic was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

After three collegiate seasons with Merrimack, Kovacevic signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Jets on March 17, 2019.[2] He made his professional debut with the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, on April 19, 2019, scoring one goal and registering an assist against the Chicago Wolves.[3]

On August 13, 2021, Kovacevic was re-signed by the Jets to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 at the NHL level.[4][5] In the following 2021–22 season, Kovacevic was recalled from the Moose and played in his first NHL game with the Jets on January 28, 2022 against the Vancouver Canucks, finishing the game with one shot on goal in 10:21 of ice time.[6]

As a restricted free agent, Kovacevic was re-signed to a three-year contract extension with the Jets on July 22, 2022.[7]

Montreal Canadiens

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After attending the Jets' 2022 training camp in preparation for the 2022–23 season, Kovacevic was placed on waivers during the pre-season. He was claimed the following day by the Montreal Canadiens on October 8, 2022.[8] Acquired by the Canadiens to help with weakness on the right side of the defence corps, Kovacevic made his debut in the season opener versus the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 12 and immediately became a regular part of the lineup. He surpassed his prior NHL appearance total within eight days of his first game.[9][10] Kovacevic was regularly paired with rookie defenceman Jordan Harris, and drew praise from the coaching staff. On November 14, Canadiens executive Jeff Gorton advised Kovacevic to find regular accommodations in Montreal, indicating that he had found a permanent roster berth for the foreseeable future. He remarked on the occasion that "it gives me a little bit of an idea that they like what they see from me, they want me for a bit of a longer haul. Because when you’re picked up on waivers, you never really know."[11]

On December 6, 2022, Kovacevic scored his first career NHL goal in a 4–2 road victory against the Seattle Kraken.[12]

New Jersey Devils

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Prior to the beginning of the NHL free agency period, Kovacevic was traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 30, 2024 in exchange for a fourth round selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.[13]

Personal life

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Kovacevic's parents are immigrants from the former SFR Yugoslavia. His father, Novica, is from Montenegro, and his mother, Angie, is from Bosnia and Herzegovina. [14]

Kovacevic holds a civil engineering degree from Merrimack College.[15]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Ottawa Jr. Senators CCHL 52 5 14 19 20 10 0 3 3 6
2015–16 Ottawa Jr. Senators CCHL 21 2 8 10 6 — — — — —
2015–16 Hawkesbury Hawks CCHL 30 6 20 26 21 10 0 7 7 10
2016–17 Merrimack College HE 36 3 16 19 30 — — — — —
2017–18 Merrimack College HE 34 2 15 17 14 — — — — —
2018–19 Merrimack College HE 31 4 14 18 14 — — — — —
2018–19 Manitoba Moose AHL 1 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Manitoba Moose AHL 45 4 8 12 33 — — — — —
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 29 2 12 14 23 — — — — —
2021–22 Manitoba Moose AHL 62 11 19 30 45 5 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Winnipeg Jets NHL 4 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2022–23 Montreal Canadiens NHL 77 3 12 15 39 — — — — —
2023–24 Montreal Canadiens NHL 62 6 7 13 42 — — — — —
NHL totals 143 9 19 28 83 — — — — —

Awards and honours

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Award Year
CCHL
All-Rookie Team 2015
Third All-Star Team 2016

References

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  1. ^ Clinton, Mitchell (June 24, 2017). "Kovacevic proud to wear Jets colours". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  2. ^ "Jets sign Johnathan Kovacevic". Winnipeg Jets. March 16, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  3. ^ Fink, Daniel (March 17, 2019). "Recap: Moose 6 at Chicago 2". Manitoba Moose. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Jets sign defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic to a one-year, two-way contract". Winnipeg Jets. August 13, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  5. ^ Hobson, Russ (August 13, 2021). "Winnipeg Jets sign defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic". Global News. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Clinton, Mitchell (January 27, 2022). "Jets close home stand with loss to Vancouver". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  7. ^ "Jets sign defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic to a three-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Canadiens claim Jonathan Kovacevic off waivers". Montreal Canadiens. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ Cowan, Stu (October 19, 2022). "Rearguard Kovacevic realizing lifelong dream with Canadiens". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Cowan, Stu (November 3, 2022). "Johnathan Kovacevic making the most of his chance with Canadiens". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Basu, Arpon (November 16, 2022). "Canadiens' Johnathan Kovacevic has found some permanence after long road to NHL". The Athletic. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  12. ^ Cowan, Stu (December 7, 2022). "First NHL goal 'feels great' for Johnathan Kovacevic". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Canadiens acquire a fourth-round pick in 2026 from the New Jersey Devils". Montreal Canadiens. June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  14. ^ https://theathletic.com/3099765/2022/01/29/how-johnathan-kovacevics-family-story-helps-him-put-his-hockey-pursuit-in-perspective/
  15. ^ "Johnathan Kovacevic - Men's Ice Hockey". Merrimack College Athletics. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
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