Johnathan
Kovacevic
D · NJD · Defensive · Below average
- PAL
- 34
- WAR
- -0.2
- Value
- 22
- PTS
- 8
2025-26№ 264 / 325
Johnathan Kovacevic (New Jersey Devils) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Johnathan Kovacevic
HEIGHT : 196 cm · WEIGHT : 101 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : July 11, 1997 · Hamilton, Canada
Drafted : 2017 · WPG · round 3, pick #74
Contract : $4,000,000 · 2025-26 → 2029-30 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $3,000,000NTC / M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | New Jersey Devils | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 2025-26 | New Jersey Devils | 34 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 38 |
| 2024-25 | New Jersey Devils | 81 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 72 |
| 2023-24 | Montréal Canadiens | 62 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 42 |
| 2022-23 | Montréal Canadiens | 77 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 39 |
| 2021-22 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 269 | 10 | 44 | 54 | 202 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | New Jersey Devils | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Playoff totals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
Johnathan Kovacevic: our analysis
2025-26 season: 34 GP, 0 G, 8 A, 8 PTS, 0 +/-, 17:52 TOI. WAR -0.2 (264th of 325) · PAL 34, below average.
In 2025-26, Johnathan Kovacevic, 29, posts a PAL Rating of 34 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of -0.2 ranks 264th among 325 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: penalty kill (63, above average). On the other hand, shooting (7, among the weakest in the league) and discipline (17, well below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.8); his biggest cost: finishing (-1.5).
A marked decline: his PAL was 63 in 2024-25, against 34 now; his WAR went from 0.2 to -0.2.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 22 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Johnathan Kovacevic's story
Raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Johnathan Kovacevic developed through the North American amateur ranks before arriving at Merrimack College as a college defenceman. In his freshman season (2016–17) he appeared in 36 games and tallied 19 points; the following year he played 34 games for 17 points. Named an alternate captain ahead of his final year, he finished that campaign with four goals in 31 appearances and was chosen his team’s most valuable player. He left Merrimack with 9 goals and 45 assists across 101 games and holds a civil engineering degree from the college.
Winnipeg selected Kovacevic in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He inked a two-year entry-level contract with the Jets on 17 March 2019 and moved into pro hockey that April with the Manitoba Moose, recording a goal and an assist in his first game against the Chicago Wolves. The Jets re-signed him to a one-year, two-way pact on 13 August 2021; during 2021–22 he was recalled from the Moose and made his NHL debut on 28 January 2022 versus the Vancouver Canucks.
A three-year extension followed in July 2022, but during the next training camp Kovacevic was placed on waivers and claimed by the Montreal Canadiens on 8 October 2022. Brought in to shore up the club’s right-side defence, he debuted in Montreal’s season opener against Toronto on 12 October and quickly became a regular in the lineup, surpassing his prior NHL appearance total within days. In Montreal he was frequently paired with rookie Jordan Harris and earned the coaching staff’s trust; his first NHL goal came on 6 December 2022 against the Seattle Kraken.
The New Jersey Devils acquired Kovacevic on 30 June 2024 in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick, and on 7 March 2025 he agreed to a five-year, $20 million extension with New Jersey. Across his path from college to the NHL, Kovacevic has been used as a right-side defensive option — a dependable presence called upon to fill a specific roster need and to form stable defensive pairings.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 15:17
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:01
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:24
- Pts/GP
- 0.08
- EV points
- 1
- Hits
- 13
- Blocks
- 8
- Takeaways
- 4
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 54.0 %
- Off. zone starts
- 35.5 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
10between 2 and 17 (80% range)
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 9
- Games
- 55
So far: 1 pts in 12 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.20 pts per game (last season: 0.24).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slight decline
- Points per game: 0.21 in 23-24, 0.24 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 63 → 34
Outlook, age included
↘ Slight declineAge 29: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 82 %
71
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 61
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 82
- Confidence 85 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 70
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 64
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 80
- Confidence 85 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 88
- Confidence 61 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 62
- Confidence 85 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 72
- Confidence 82 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 61
- Confidence 82 %
- DF
- Defense
- 80
- Confidence 79 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 67
- Confidence 8 %
- EX
- Experience
- 64
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating61
- Top speed (35 %)34.7 · 64
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)1.038 · 60
- Distance /60 (20 %)13.9 · 67
- Speed consistency (15 %)33.4 · 61
ST — Strength82
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.862 · 73
- Body mass (50 %)1.433 · 86
EN — Endurance70
- Ice time per game (45 %)18.3 · 71
- Total ice time (20 %)594 · 60
- Shift length (15 %)49.4 · 81
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)16.5 · 70
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.209 · 73
DU — Durability64
- Share of games played (100 %)0.73 · 64
CK — Checking80
- Hits /60 (70 %)4.315 · 80
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)3.714 · 80
- Season volume (10 %)4.06 · 76
FG — Fighting88
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.634 · 88
DI — Discipline62
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.079 · 62
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.843 · 65
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.382 · 75
PA — Passing72
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.326 · 70
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.378 · 72
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.01 · 73
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.183 · 77
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.214 · 73
SC — Scoring61
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.13 · 59
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.17 · 68
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.056 · 61
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.068 · 68
- xG per shot (10 %)0.034 · 69
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)8.907 · 69
DF — Defense80
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.079 · 81
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.147 · 85
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.564 · 79
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.014 · 71
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-2.276 · 67
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)56.8 · 80
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)4.235 · 73
PS — Penalty shot67
- Shootouts (60 %)32 · 65
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience64
- Career regular-season games (65 %)78
- Career playoff games (25 %)26
- NHL seasons (10 %)61
OV — Overall71
- DF · Defense (30 %)80
- PA · Passing (22 %)72
- SK · Skating (12 %)61
- SC · Scoring (12 %)61
- EN · Endurance (9 %)70
- ST · Strength (6 %)82
- DI · Discipline (5 %)62
- CK · Checking (4 %)80
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 71 | 61 | 61 | 80 |
| 2024-25 | 75 | 64 | 65 | 83 |
| 2023-24 | 67 | 62 | 81 | 66 |
| 2022-23 | 70 | 67 | 70 | 69 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.2
wins above replacement
264 of 325
PAL Rating
34/ 100
Performance · Below average
166 of 250 at the position
Value Rating
22/ 100
Very poor return
4.00 M$ · expected PAL 62
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 22
- Defense
- 56
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 19
- Creation
- 37
- Shooting
- 7
- Possession
- 54
- Defense
- 56
- Discipline
- 17
- Power play
- 58
- Penalty kill
- 63
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | -0.2 | 34 | 22 | 4.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 0.2 | 63 | 84 | 0.77 M$ |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 0.7 | 33 | 48 | 0.77 M$ |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 0.4 | 29 | 42 | 0.77 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
33/ 100
Below average
better than 33% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
28/ 100
Below average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
39/ 100
Below average
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 150 of 225 defensemen.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 35
- Shot selection
- 31
- Penalties drawn
- 51
- Puck management
- 34
Defense
- Takeaways
- 60
- Discipline
- 18
- Safe zone exits
- 65
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | 33 | 28 | 39 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 6 | 20 | 7 |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 18 | 72 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 73 | 81 | 53 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.2
wins above replacement
-0.4 to 0.1 — 90% interval
264 of 325 defensemen
-0.8 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.4
- EV defense
- +0.8
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Shooting
- -1.5
- Penalties
- -1.0
- Average → replacement
- +1.3
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | 34 | -0.2 | -0.4 to 0.1 | 264/325 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 77 | 0.2 | -0.5 to 0.9 | 149/314 |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 62 | 0.7 | -0.1 to 1.4 | 64/316 |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 77 | 0.4 | -0.4 to 1.0 | 90/334 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 153.2 km/h91st percentileleague avg. 139.7 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 33.0 km/h22nd percentileleague avg. 34.0 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 110th percentileleague avg. 8
- Offensive zone time
- 42.3 %61st percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 38.6 km30th percentileleague avg. 56.1 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.09 km23rd percentileleague avg. 4.98 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 42.5 %59th percentileleague avg. 42.8 %
- Neutral zone time
- 19.1 %90th percentileleague avg. 16.9 %
- Defensive zone time
- 38.7 %74th percentileleague avg. 40.8 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1037th percentile | 049th percentile | 0.0 %27th percentile |
| High danger | 051st percentile | 084th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Mid range | 020th percentile | 073rd percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 651st percentile | 077th percentile | 0.0 %67th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
TOR
NYI
STL
EDM
VGK
DAL
LAK
ANA
COL
WSH
NYR
DETJohnathan Kovacevic: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Johnathan Kovacevic have in 2026-27?
Johnathan Kovacevic has 0 goals and 1 point (1 assist) in 12 games in 2026-27.
How old is Johnathan Kovacevic?
Johnathan Kovacevic is 29 years old: he was born on July 12, 1997.
How tall is Johnathan Kovacevic, and how much does he weigh?
Johnathan Kovacevic is 6'5" (196 cm) and weighs 223 lb (101 kg).
Where is Johnathan Kovacevic from?
Canada: Johnathan Kovacevic was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
What team does Johnathan Kovacevic play for?
Johnathan Kovacevic plays for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL, at D, wearing number 8.
Is Johnathan Kovacevic injured?
No: Johnathan Kovacevic is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Johnathan Kovacevic?
Johnathan Kovacevic produced -0.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 264th of 325 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 34 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Johnathan Kovacevic make?
Johnathan Kovacevic earns $4.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 22 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Johnathan Kovacevic's contract end?
Johnathan Kovacevic's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a NTC / M-NTC clause.
Is Johnathan Kovacevic overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 22 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Johnathan Kovacevic a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 264th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Johnathan Kovacevic getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 63 in 2024-25 to 34 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Johnathan Kovacevic played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Johnathan Kovacevic has 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist).
What are Johnathan Kovacevic's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Johnathan Kovacevic has 269 games, 10 goals, 44 assists and 54 points. His best season: 2024-25, with 17 points in 81 games.
Where was Johnathan Kovacevic drafted?
Johnathan Kovacevic was drafted 74th overall (round 3) by Winnipeg Jets in 2017.
Is Johnathan Kovacevic better at home or on the road?
On the road: in 2026-27, he averages 0.00 points per game at home (0 in 6 games) and 0.17 on the road (1 in 6 games).
How does Johnathan Kovacevic perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Johnathan Kovacevic has 3 games and 0 points in his career. His pace (0.00 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.20).
Which player is most similar to Johnathan Kovacevic?
Jonas Siegenthaler: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Jonas Siegenthaler's page →Is Johnathan Kovacevic a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 10 points in 2026-27, or 0.18 points per game.
What is Johnathan Kovacevic's nationality?
Johnathan Kovacevic is Canadian.
What awards has Johnathan Kovacevic won?
Hockey East All-Academic Team (2016–17 season) ; Merrimack Rookie of the Year (2016–17 season) ; Hockey East All-Academic Team (2017–18 season) ; Named an alternate captain prior to his final campaign (final season with Merrimack) ; Merrimack team MVP (final collegiate season).
Where did Johnathan Kovacevic play before turning pro?
Merrimack College Warriors (began 2016–17; finished collegiate career with 101 games).
How many points is Johnathan Kovacevic projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 10 points in 55 games in 2026-27 (2 to 17 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his New Jersey Devils teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)