(Tempe, Arizona) An old cliché borrowed from football is that the best defense is offense.
Johnathan Kovacevic is not there. Not yet, at least. In his case, the best defense is… defense.
When Kaiden Guhle and David Savard were injured a few days ago, the spotlight instantly fell on Justin Barron, who joined the team after being left out. However, without making waves, Kovacevic has also gained ground, to the point of obtaining a promotion alongside Mike Matheson on the main duo.
In reality, his responsibilities had already increased slightly when Savard, right-handed like him, was healthy. Here he is already on four assignments of more than 20 minutes in the same meeting this season, which had only happened to him 12 times in 77 games in 2022-2023.
This change did not come out of the blue. “I think he’s improved everywhere,” Matheson said Wednesday after the club’s training in Tempe. His shot is better, his skating is better, his confidence with the puck is greater… The more he plays, the more confidence he has in himself. »
It is worth remembering that Kovacevic, despite his 26 years, is part of the populous group of second-year players at CH. “He’s a guy who tries to improve all the time,” Martin St-Louis said about him.
The main person concerned himself affirms that he constantly seeks to question himself, to “find what[il] can do more.” This by following the “framework” submitted to him by the coaching staff. “A clear framework of what they expect of me, of the defender they want me to be,” he specifies in an interview with The Press.
But still ? “A defensive defenseman capable of moving the puck well and difficult to tackle. »
There is therefore nothing really surprising to see him replace Savard in the toughest defensive missions. This profile that he is developing, however, is different from the one he had before reaching the NHL.
From offensive to defensive
In his last two seasons in the American League, the big 6’5″ man was in fact running at a rate of half a point per game. A production similar to that which he maintained for three years at Merrimack University and which earned him to be drafted in the third round by the Winnipeg Jets.
With the Habs, it is not his offensive qualities that are highlighted. In this department, we rely more on Matheson, Barron, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj. Even at five against five, when a faceoff takes place in offensive territory, it is almost systematically called back to the bench. In nine games so far, he has been involved in barely 13 duels in the enemy zone, compared to 53 in the defensive zone. The message is clear.
If I can be completely honest, this side of the game [l’attaque] miss. That’s what’s the most fun! But we are a team: it’s obvious that guys better than me offensively will get starts in the opposing zone.
Johnathan Kovacevic
In the American League, too, he had to be patient before his role was diversified. So he doesn’t complain about his fate. On the contrary.
“[Les entraîneurs]give me a path to stay in the NHL for a long time, and I’m grateful for that. So I try to do what they tell me and trust myself enough to make plays. »
Listening to Martin St-Louis, the student does his homework well. He emphasizes his ability to initiate the attack in his territory by choosing “the right best play on the ice, not just one play.” The head coach also expects his defender to “continue to work on his touches” in possession of the disc.
Competitor
By playing in the first pair of backs, it is not only his defensive skills that are called upon, but also his competitive instincts. He thus finds himself facing the best opposing trio at five on five, which he was already doing shorthanded.
The “challenge” is not simple, Kovacevic agrees. The margin for error is slim. “It may seem conventional, but playing a good 59 minutes is not enough against these guys,” he illustrates. Sometimes you play two good periods and you feel in control. Then you have a bad presence and they score. You can never be satisfied with anything. »
The thinking is the same when shorthanded. “If you waste four power plays and you give in on the fifth, it could cost you the game. »
What impression does this seemingly thankless task leave him with? ” I love that ! », he replies straight away.
It gives me the opportunity to read games and compete against the best players in the world. It’s hard, but I love it.
Johnathan Kovacevic
Without consulting each other, he and his partner use almost the same words to describe their complementarity. With his reach and size, one covers a lot of space in his zone, and his minimalist play allows the other to take flight and support the attack.
“[Matheson]likes to take chances because he has the skating skills to do so, explains Kovacevic. I don’t like to take those chances; our risk/reward ratio is not the same. But I can cover for him and give him freedom. And when he’s free, he’s amazing. »
A constant challenge for players at the start of their careers is to prove their usefulness, or even their necessity, within their team. Casually, in the current state of things at the Habs, Johnathan Kovacevic is looking more and more like a must-have.