The Canadiens have added some depth on the back end as NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston reports (Twitter link) that they’ve claimed defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic off waivers from Winnipeg.
The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season, getting into four games with the Jets where he averaged just shy of 11 minutes per game. Kovacevic spent most of the year with AHL Manitoba where he put up 11 goals and 19 assists in 62 games, both career-bests. That was enough for Winnipeg to sign him to a three-year contract this summer, one that’s worth the NHL minimum in each season, carrying a cap hit of $766.7K. The deal is two-way for the first two years and one-way for the last season.
Montreal, who has the top waiver priority for all of October after finishing last in 2021-22, has several open spots on their back end with only veterans Mike Matheson, David Savard, Joel Edmundson, and Chris Wideman assured of spots and Edmundson has yet to play this preseason due to back injuries. They’ve spent most of the preseason running through several prospects and minor leaguers with varying results. Adding Kovacevic will fill one of those openings and push a prospect or a younger veteran on the fringes to the minors (and/or waiver wire) in advance of Monday’s season-opening roster deadline.
Stupid move by Chevy, should have let Stanley get waived. Was stupid to trade up to draft him and doubling down even though he’s getting worse…….poor asset management
I totally agree , Kenobiwan