PuckSleuthNot on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots R
Johnathan Kovacevic
Age 29 · 6'5" · 223 lb · Born in Hamilton, CAN
Cap hit
$4M
3.8% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
NTC
Surplus value
+$610K
vs. $4.61M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2025-26 regular season
GP
34
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
8
2 primary
Points
8
0.24 per game
TOI/GP
17:52
PP 0:02 · PK 1:36
xGF%
48.3
5v5, -5.1 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.11
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 39 · Hits 57
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 @ BOS · L 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19:43 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 43 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.33 |
| Apr 12 vs OTT · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16:40 | 0:00 | 3:17 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | +2 | +0.28 |
| Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 18:42 | 0:00 | 1:31 | — | 50 | 0 | 1 | +1 | +0.40 |
| Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 19:24 | 0:12 | 1:29 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.29 |
| Apr 7 vs PHI · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20:17 | 0:00 | 2:10 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.10 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 536 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
42nd percentile
39th percentile
36th percentile
64th percentile
31st percentile
69th percentile
36th percentile
58th percentile
60th percentile
36th percentile
17th percentile
25th percentile
26th percentile
16th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleAggressive transition defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Kovacevic is a high-volume rush attacker who flies up ice and generates chances with physicality and aggressive play, but struggles to create offense through passing and shows limited straight-line speed. He compensates with excellent puck handling and positioning that keeps him valuable despite modest shot volume and modest defensive metrics.
- Shooting volume
- 44
- Playmaking
- 26
- Zone entries(est.)
- 93
- Forechecking
- 68
- Physicality
- 77
- Defensive impact
- 46
- Puck management
- 74
- Speed
- 11
Where he shoots from
Slot 9% · Mid-range 15% · Perimeter 75%(53 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite at leading rush chances with 93rd percentile zone entries
- Strong puck management at 74th percentile keeps play flowing
- Physical presence at 77th percentile adds net-front value
Watch-outs
- Playmaking in bottom quartile (26th percentile) limits pure assist upside
- Speed ranks 11th percentile, relying on positioning over skating ability
- Defensive impact near league average (46th percentile) despite physicality
Similar style: Brett Pesce (NJD), Rasmus Ristolainen (PHI)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 34 GP · goals above average
Season total -3.6 goals, or -0.11 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.1
- Even strength defense
- -0.2
- Penalty kill
- +0.3
- Finishing
- -1.5
- Playmaking
- -1.0
- Penalties
- -1.1
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | 34 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 30 | 17:52 | — | -0.11 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 81 | 1 | 16 | 17 | +10 | 76 | 19:49 | — | -0.05 |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 62 | 6 | 7 | 13 | +11 | 46 | 16:31 | — | -0.02 |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 77 | 3 | 12 | 15 | +3 | 92 | 17:25 | — | -0.06 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 29, defensemen typically produce 93% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 32, when the typical level is 81%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.6 mph
- 18th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 3
- Hardest shot
- 88.8 mph
- 41st pct
- Distance
- 82.3 mi
- OZ time
- 40.0%
- 26th pct
- DZ time
- 41.4%