At the time, trading Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils seemed sensible for Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes. With prospects Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher ready to step up on the right defense, it made sense to clear a spot. However, Mailloux has been recently sent down to the American Hockey League, and Reinbacher, despite avoiding injury this preseason, likely wasn’t going to make the roster either, indicating both players are not yet prepared for NHL action. As both Kovacevic and fellow right-side defenseman David Savard approach unrestricted free agency next summer, Hughes faced some important choices.
The first query regarding the veterans can be answered with a decisive “no.” It’s improbable that either Kovacevic or Savard would accept a short-term contract simply to fill a gap while the Canadiens wait for Mailloux and Reinbacher to develop. Realistically, by 2024-25, there was hope that each prospect would be nearly ready, if not this year then the next, leading to the likely departure of both veterans.
The second question is less certain. Justin Barron is no longer waiver-exempt, and the Canadiens chose to keep Lane Hutson out of training camp, thereby effectively necessitating Kaiden Guhle to occupy another right-side defense position, leaving just one full-time spot available for Kovacevic and Savard. When Kovacevic was traded in late June, Jordan Harris was still part of the team. Although a left-shot, coach Martin St. Louis often played him on the right. This context might explain why Hughes felt compelled to trade both veterans before the trade deadline.
This decision is complicated. Kovacevic, at 27, has shown great defensive awareness and puck-moving skills, while 34-year-old Savard, despite a small increase in his performance this season, lacks that two-way capability. Ideally, Hughes would have kept Kovacevic and traded Savard, particularly since Kovacevic’s youth and stability in defense could have been valuable if Mailloux and Reinbacher’s development faced setbacks.
Currently, the Canadiens’ defensive performance is struggling. They’ve allowed the fifth-most shots per game (31.9) and conceded 29 goals in their last six games, ranking last in expected goals against at five-on-five. This performance suggests the team is even worse defensively than last season, despite hoped-for growth in their young defensemen. With a record of 4-7-1, already four points behind in the Atlantic Division, their playoff hopes are dwindling, hinting at a potential lottery selection instead.
The early-season challenges were unexpected, and the absence of Kovacevic is a significant reason for the decline. Though he only averaged 16:31 on the ice last season, his understated presence was crucial for a defensive player. Teams often add role players at the trade deadline for a playoff push, and Kovacevic could have been that contributor for the Canadiens.
Ironically, Savard was a similar asset for the Tampa Bay Lightning when they won the Stanley Cup in 2021. Given the return Hughes received for trading Kovacevic—a fourth-round pick—it seems inadequate, especially since the better player was the one traded. Perhaps the Devils only wanted Kovacevic or Hughes struggled to move Savard, but the current state of the team shows a need for improvement on defense.
Some critics argue Kovacevic isn’t a top-four defenseman given his previous ice time. However, he’s now one of the top players on the Devils’ blue line, showcasing the miscalculation that his trade represented for Hughes. Although Hughes has built a promising foundation for future competitiveness, he hasn’t been flawless. Recent acquisitions, including Barron, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook, have faced scrutiny, but it’s essential to recognize that not every move will pan out as expected.
Dach showed potential as a top center when healthy, and parting with defensive defenseman Alexander Romanov may still prove worthwhile if Dach develops adequately. Newhook performed well in his first season despite a rocky start to this year, and the cost was only a couple of low draft picks—an understandable trade for any logical GM.
Barron’s development has been more challenging to defend, especially since Artturi Lehkonen has blossomed into a top-six forward for the Colorado Avalanche. Nevertheless, there remains hope that Barron could still fulfill his role as a necessary offensive-minded defenseman.
The trade of Kovacevic stands as an avoidable error for Hughes, given the knowledge he had at the time. While aiming to create a competitive team, it appears his judgment concerning the team’s present needs may have been premature. However, it is still possible for the team to improve, but that would require significant enhancements on defense. Kovacevic would have been a suitable remedy for their current struggles, highlighting a mistake in timing and decision-making on Hughes’s part.
While Hughes deserves scrutiny for the Kovacevic trade, it’s worth noting the Canadiens were not strong last season, and they have shown incremental progress under his leadership. Kovacevic may be remembered as a undervalued asset who left prematurely, and Hughes should avoid making similar errors in the future as he continues to build the team.
