Johnathan Kovacevic
Age: 28 Position: Right-handed defenseman
Statistics: eight assists, eight points (34 games)
Contract: five years, $20 million (four years remaining)
Grade: D+
2025-26 Review
Johnathan Kovacevic was arguably the best defensive defenseman in the NHL in 2024-25. As a result, he was extended via a five-year contract worth $20 million by now former general manager Tom Fitzgerald. However, after a knee injury cut his 2025-26 season short, Kovacevic got a late start in 2025-26 and struggled immensely.
The 28-year-old defensemen ranked second-to-last among Devils defensemen to play at least 24 games in expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five this season. As far as goals above replacement (GAR), he was right in the middle of the pack. However, his expected GAR (xGAR) metrics ranked seventh among nine team defensemen. This demonstrates that the actual tangible results he received, which were not strong to begin with, should have been even worse off.
The main issue with Kovacevic in 2025-26 was his lackluster play in his own end. As far as expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60), the 2.91 he allowed at five-on-five was the most on the Devils. It was also the 60th-highest in the league among 270 defensemen to play at least 100 minutes at five-on-five.
As a result of his declining play, Kovacevic saw his ice time decrease from 19:49 in 2024-25 to 17:52 this season. Kovacevic was a defensive defenseman who was unable to provide much support in his own end this season which accelerated the disappointment. A defenseman being paid $5 million to play strong defense struggling immensely in that area is not going to get it done.
2026-27 Outlook
Kovacevic is under contract for the long haul, specifically, through 2030. He also has a full no-trade clause in 2026-27 before it becomes a 10-team no-trade list in 2027-28. So, moving the right-handed defenseman this offseason may be tough.
Looking at the right side of the Devils’ defense, Kovacevic joins Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Simon Nemec. It appears pretty certain one of those four will be dealt, and it seems highly unlikely to be Pesce making Kovacevic a possibility if the no-trade clause can be navigated.
If Kovacevic remains with the Devils in 2026-27, which is likely due to the no-trade clause, everyone is surely hopeful he returns to that elite 2024-25 form. In that season, he ranked in the league’s 97th percentile in on-ice defensive metrics according to Evolving Hockey. Kovacevic, along with Jonas Siegenthaler, formed the best defensive pairing in the league.
Coming off a major injury and subsequent surgery is tough for any player, hopefully with a full offseason and a healthy training camp Kovacevic can be a strong defensive presence in 2026-27.
Note, all statistics are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.