(Moncton, New Brunswick) The Canadian needed help on the right at the blue line and he found a temporary solution.
Posted at 2:26 p.m.
The team claimed Johnathan Kovacevic on waivers on Saturday. The Winnipeg Jets had submitted it the day before.
Kovacevic, 25, is a 6’4, 208 lb colossus, shooting from the right. Last season he made his NHL debut, playing four games. The Ontarian spent the rest of the season in the American League, where he had 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 62 games.
Despite his 11 goals, he is not considered a very attacking defender. He also scored all of his goals at even strength, as Leon Gawanke, Ville Heinola and Declan Chisholm were ahead of him in the power play units.
Kovacevic, a product of Merrimack College, NCAA, will serve out the first year of a three-year contract averaging $767,000 this season. He was drafted on 3e tower (74e in total) in 2017 by the Winnipeg Jets. Note that he was ignored in his first two years of eligibility, before being claimed at age 20.
The Habs now have four right-handed defenders in their ranks: David Savard, Chris Wideman, Justin Barron and Kovacevic. As Barron does not have to go through waivers before being transferred to Laval, he could therefore be called upon to start the season with the Rocket, the time to find his bearings.