Johnathan Kovacevic - NHL News & Rumors

Jack Hughes scores on a breakaway in OT, lifts Devils to a 5-4 win over Red Wings

Jack Hughes scored on a breakaway off a slick pass from Jesper Bratt early in overtime, lifting the New Jersey Devils to a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings

1 HOUR AGO • Associated Press

Kovacevic Activated | TRANSACTION | New Jersey Devils The Devils have activated defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic off the Injured Reserve list, but he will not play in this afternoon's game against...

3 DAYS AGO • NHL.COM

Activated from non-roster list Kovacevic (knee) was activated from the injured non-roster list Saturday.

Impact After missing the first three games of the 2026-27 campaign, Kovacevic will be available to make his season debut against Vancouver on Saturday. He had eight assists, 30 shots on net, 39 blocked shots and 57 hits in 34 regular-season appearances for New Jersey in 2025-26.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Devils take on the Canucks after Evangelista's 2-goal showing

The New Jersey Devils host the Vancouver Canucks after Luke Evangelista's two-goal game against the Utah Mammoth in the Devils' 5-3 loss

4 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Devils in action against the Islanders following overtime victory

The New Jersey Devils visit the New York Islanders after the Devils knocked off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime

OCTOBER 2 • Associated Press

Devils take on the Flyers in Metropolitan Division matchup

The New Jersey Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers in a matchup of Metropolitan Division opponents

OCTOBER 1 • Associated Press

Appears on injured non-roster list Kovacevic (knee) will begin the 2026-27 regular season on the injured non-roster list, per Mike Morreale of NHL.com.

Impact Kovacevic was a limited participant across the majority of New Jersey's training camp and didn't appear in a preseason game. The 29-year-old blueliner battled through injuries early in the 2025-26 regular season as well, where he posted eight points, 30 shots on net, 57 hits and 39 blocked shots across 34 games. When he's available to return, he'll likely begin the season as the team's sixth or seventh defenseman, as he and Declan Chisholm are the team's current candidates to claim the right-defenseman role on New Jersey's third pairing.

SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Limited action to start camp Kovacevic (knee) will be a limited participant to start New Jersey's training camp.

Impact Kovacevic underwent a minor procedure in his right knee during the 2025-26 offseason, so he'll ramp up to playing shape slowly during training camp. The 29-year-old blueliner is coming off a season where he appeared in 34 regular-season games, compiling eight assists, 30 shots on net, 57 hits and 39 blocked shots. Once he's back to full strength, he'll likely battle for an everyday role against New Jersey's other right shot defensemen, such as Brett Pesce and Declan Chisholm.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Johnathan Kovacevic | 25-26 EXIT INTERVIEWS | New Jersey Devils Johnathan Kovacevic speaks to the media at the end of the season.

APRIL 15 • NHL.COM

Pockets assist in win Kovacevic notched an assist and two hits in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Red Wings.

Impact Kovacevic has earned four assists over his last nine outings. The 28-year-old is filling a top-four role and a spot on the penalty kill. He's had a relatively quiet campaign with just eight assists, 29 shots on net, 56 hits, 38 blocked shots and 38 PIM across 32 appearances. He missed the first half of the campaign while recovering from a knee surgery.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Jack Hughes' 5-point game powers the Devils to a 7-3 win over the Capitals

Jack Hughes had two goals and three assists and Dawson Mercer scored twice as the New Jersey Devils beat the Washington Capitals 7-3

APRIL 3 • Associated Press

Two points Saturday Kovacevic pocketed two assists in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Impact The 28-year-old blueliner had a hand in tallies by Jesper Bratt in the first period and an empty-netter in the third that completed a hat trick for Jack Hughes. It was Kovacevic's first multi-point performance of the season, and in 15 games since a belated 2025-26 debut due to knee surgery, he's produced four assists, 27 hits, 19 blocked shots, 15 shots on net, 15 PIM and a minus-8 rating.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Kovacevic on MSG | POST-RAW 1.29.26 | New Jersey Devils Johnathan Kovacevic speaks after a 3-2 overtime win over Nashville.

JANUARY 30 • NHL.COM

Kovacevic | PRE-RAW 1.29.26 | New Jersey Devils Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic speaks with the media after morning skate before playing Nashville

JANUARY 29 • NHL.COM

Beniers, Catton score 18 seconds apart in 3rd period as Kraken beat Devils 4-2

Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton scored 18 seconds apart in the third period, Joey Daccord made 27 saves and the Seattle Kraken beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Sunday

JANUARY 25 • Associated Press

Kovacevic | PRACTICE RAW 1.24.26 | New Jersey Devils Johnathan Kovacevic speaks after practice in Seattle on Saturday.

JANUARY 24 • NHL.COM

Kovacevic | PRE-RAW 1.17.26 | New Jersey Devils Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic talks to the media ahead of hosting Carolina

JANUARY 17 • NHL.COM

Devils GM is 'working the phones daily' as Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat trade rumors swirl

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald says he's making calls every day to try to improve his team that has underachieved so far this season

JANUARY 14 • Associated Press

Assist in season debut Kovacevic notched an assist and blocked two shots in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Jets.

Impact Kovacevic missed the first three months of the season while recovering from knee surgery. He logged 18:14 of ice time in his season debut, playing on the second pairing. He'll be more of a shutdown defenseman than a scorer -- he had a career-high 17 points in 81 regular-season outings last season while adding 102 hits and 99 blocked shots. The bigger change with Kovacevic's return is the potential exit of Dougie Hamilton, who was a healthy scratch Sunday. The Devils are deep on the blue line and can afford to make a move, but it'll likely be Simon Nemec who benefits the most if Hamilton is ultimately traded, while Kovacevic may still pick up some extra defensive minutes.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Kovacevic | POST-RAW 1.11.26 | New Jersey Devils Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic speaks after a 4-3 loss in Winnipeg

JANUARY 11 • NHL.COM

Kovacevic, Dadonov Activated | TRANSACTIONS | New Jersey Devils The Devils have activated defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and forward Evgenii Dadonov off the Injured Reserve list. Kovacevic has missed the...

JANUARY 11 • NHL.COM

Removed from LTIR Kovacevic (knee) was activated from long-term injured reserve Sunday, per the NHL media site.

Impact Following a 44-game absence due to offseason knee surgery, Kovacevic is poised to make his 2025-26 debut against Winnipeg on Sunday. He registered one goal, 17 points, 76 shots on net, 99 blocked shots and 102 hits across 81 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. Kovacevic's return to action will make Dougie Hamilton a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Jets.

JANUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Kovacevic | PRACTICE RAW 1.10.26 | New Jersey Devils Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic speaks to the media about his return from injury

JANUARY 10 • NHL.COM

Moves to long-term injured reserve Kovacevic (knee) has been moved to long-term injured reserve, PuckPedia reports Sunday.

Impact Kovacevic isn't expected to join the lineup anytime soon, as the Devils ruled him out indefinitely at the start of training camp. It's unclear how he's progressing in his recovery, but it appears as if he'll miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 campaign. Seamus Casey (lower body) is on the shelf as well, so Dennis Cholowski is the club's lone extra blueliner at this time.

OCTOBER 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on non-roster IR Kovacevic (knee) was put on non-roster injured reserve Monday.

Impact The Devils ruled Kovacevic out indefinitely Thursday, as the defenseman is still working his way back from offseason knee injury. The 2017 third-round pick accounted for one goal, 16 assists, 102 hits and a plus-10 rating over a career-high 81 regular-season contests in 2024-25. Simon Nemec is expected to receive an uptick in playing time while Kovacevic is on the shelf.

OCTOBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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