Player Discussion Johnathan Kovacevic

[Habs 4 Life]

He’s not worth a 5th or 6th.

He’s worth a 2nd round pick minimum for the following reasons

RD (most coveted position in Hockey)
Paid minimum salary for another year. All the teams can fit him.
Solid defensively and plays PK well
Still young (26 yo)
Low maintenance guy and great seize

I don't disagree with you, but have fun finding that team that will pay that!

And again, I think he is worth more to us this season + next especially at that contract than us adding another freaking pick!

 

[habbubba]

They're professional athletes, they don't care what management is doing. They are playing for play-offs but management is managing for the future.

You have to think that some players would find that demoralizing,some are working their ass off yet management isn't doing anything to improve the current squad and actively weakening it.

 

[WeThreeKings]

You have to think that some players would find that demoralizing,some are working their ass off yet management isn't doing anything to improve the current squad and actively weakening it.

In some sense, I think they are living in reality here and where they are in the standings is always going to dictate what happens.

But that being said, Basu had mentioned in his podcast that this seems like the last year they want to do that to Caufield/Suzuki where they are standing in front of cameras talking about a guy like Monahan/Toffoli/Lehkonen leaving.

There will be SOME trades that still happen, they have to make room for the youth coming up but it won't be a straight sell move like we've seen.

 

[CAUFIELD]

I don't disagree with you, but have fun finding that team that will pay that!

And again, I think he is worth more to us this season + next especially at that contract than us adding another freaking pick!

Someone paid for Kulak. A late 2nd from a contender is really realistic to me.

I would indeed keep Kovacevic and cash in on Savard tho.

 

[Tyson]

He’s not worth a 5th or 6th.

He’s worth a 2nd round pick minimum for the following reasons

RD (most coveted position in Hockey)
Paid minimum salary for another year. All the teams can fit him.
Solid defensively and plays PK well
Still young (26 yo)
Low maintenance guy and great seize

Agreed.

 

[tnq]

He’s not worth a 5th or 6th.

He’s worth a 2nd round pick minimum for the following reasons

RD (most coveted position in Hockey)
Paid minimum salary for another year. All the teams can fit him.
Solid defensively and plays PK well
Still young (26 yo)
Low maintenance guy and great seize

So why do we have to trade him ?

 

[CAUFIELD]

So why do we have to trade him ?

We don’t have to , but Barron , Reinbacher , Mailloux we need a spot in the next 2 years .

 

[Tyson]

We don’t have to , but Barron , Reinbacher , Mailloux we need a spot in the next 2 years .

I think Barron is going to be moved sooner than we think. Don't get me wrong I like Justin Barron but Reinbacher and Mailloux will make him expendable very soon.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I don't see huge upside in trading him at that age TBH, feels like he's more valuable to us than to other teams, especially if one or more of the better young dmen end up being traded anyway. If it's a Kulak type return, MAYBE, but I'd still not see much of a point.

 

[habbubba]

In some sense, I think they are living in reality here and where they are in the standings is always going to dictate what happens.

But that being said, Basu had mentioned in his podcast that this seems like the last year they want to do that to Caufield/Suzuki where they are standing in front of cameras talking about a guy like Monahan/Toffoli/Lehkonen leaving.

There will be SOME trades that still happen, they have to make room for the youth coming up but it won't be a straight sell move like we've seen.

For sure they know where they stand and what the plan is going forward. This management team was burdened from the previous one and it's taking time to clean it up.

What intrigues me is that that prior to the Christmas break,Montreal was only 5 or so points from a playoff spot.Not to be argumentative but the devils advocate,had they dedicated to icing the best roster possible and making a trade to get a top player and sat or waived deadwood,how would it have played out and how would they have fared.

I know they have a plan but I prefer playoff hockey than not. And tanking,they did that last season with debatable methods and results and this season is similar.

Next season should substantially be a marked improvement,if they can stay healthy and intact for a change. They have now a solid line with Nick,Slaf and Cole. Dach in the lineup and they should have another very decent line as well. With the abundance of assets that they have. that can cover a bottom 6 and moves to be made and the defense will be that much more experienced.

 

[tnq]

We don’t have to , but Barron , Reinbacher , Mailloux we need a spot in the next 2 years .

we don't need Baron, Reinbacher, Mailloux to be 5rd or 6rd defender. If they can not win the spot in top 4, trade them. Do you think Barron is better than Kovacevic in 3rd pair ? I don't think so

 

[LaP]

we don't need Baron, Reinbacher, Mailloux to be 5rd or 6rd defender. If they can not win the spot in top 4, trade them. Do you think Barron is better than Kovacevic in 3rd pair ? I don't think so

It depends. If you have three Kovacevic on your bottom 3 then you should be looking at upgrading at least one. I don't see the offense in Struble and having him along with Kova and Xhekaj would make a very weak bottom 3 offensively speaking. Could work without any injuries but you expose yourself to some problems if you got injuries in your top 3. It's a case of been there done that. If you have too many 15 points guys in your defense it's problematic.

Also those kids are unlikely to win a spot from the AHL. They'll eventually have to be tried at the NHL level. There's two options. You wait for an injury or you free some space. If you think Kova is so good that's it's worth keeping a skilled kid in the AHL then i'm happy you're not our GM. Kova is a disposable body. He's nothing special and a good GM can easily replace him. His best attribute for a cup contending team is his contract and this will disappear at the end of next season i.e. before we are ready to win.

 

[eurodin]

we don't need Baron, Reinbacher, Mailloux to be 5rd or 6rd defender. If they can not win the spot in top 4, trade them. Do you think Barron is better than Kovacevic in 3rd pair ? I don't think so

100%. and we need to cash in for Savard. Is he even worth anything to a contender? We really need top 3 talent. We have too many 4-5-6-7

 

[tazsub3]

I don't disagree with you, but have fun finding that team that will pay that!

And again, I think he is worth more to us this season + next especially at that contract than us adding another freaking pick!

Well I remember same comments about kulak , and we know how that ended up

 

[Le Barron de HF]

If journeyman Megna can fetch a 4th last year, Kovacevic is worth a 3rd.

 

[Tyson]

If journeyman Megna can fetch a 4th last year, Kovacevic is worth a 3rd.

Kovasevic is not getting traded, a competent Dman who makes under 800K.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Kovasevic is not getting traded, a competent Dman who makes under 800K.

It's about asset management and selling high at one point. This dude was sitting in press box at different times this year. Someone has to be #7 at some point but those guys are interchangeable. He's proven his ceiling is bottom pair, can't handle more than that.

 

[Tyson]

It's about asset management and selling high at one point. This dude was sitting in press box at different times this year. Someone has to be #7 at some point but those guys are interchangeable. He's proven his ceiling is bottom pair, can't handle more than that.

Habs need low paid players that can play. If nothing else he is a great #7. Why trade for another pick? How many friggin picks do you need?

You need players and Kovasevic can play.

 

[Habs13]

I would trade both Matheson and Savard before Kovacevic. Partially because the return on those two should significantly higher and at their ages, they won't be in the prime by the time this team is ready to compete. Sell high before they turn Gallagheresque.

Kovacevic is still young enough that he could be part of a competitive team, is making very little, while being a hulking RD that can handle himself and plays well enough to deserve a spot. It might be as 7th defenseman but I think that is a role he would be happy to occupy.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Habs need low paid players that can play. If nothing else he is a great #7. Why trade for another pick? How many friggin picks do you need?

You need players and Kovasevic can play.

It's better having an extra 3rd than losing this guy on waivers next season or overpaying him for what he brings. With Robidas I'm not worried he can get some fringe players to play competently.

 

[calder candidate]

First I would talk with the agent to what are the expectations for the next contract. If it is reasonable for a 3rd pairing D, I wouldn’t trade him.
If it is a bit expensive than I see what we can get, but I’m not trading him unless a team is overpaying big time. Any NHLer at that price for 2 playoff should be valuable.

 

[Tyson]

It's better having an extra 3rd than losing this guy on waivers next season or overpaying him for what he brings. With Robidas I'm not worried he can get some fringe players to play competently.

Perhaps but I doubt he gets waived. 7 D make the roster.

 

[26Mats]

First I would talk with the agent to what are the expectations for the next contract. If it is reasonable for a 3rd pairing D, I wouldn’t trade him.
If it is a bit expensive than I see what we can get, but I’m not trading him unless a team is overpaying big time. Any NHLer at that price for 2 playoff should be valuable.

I think we should go into. Ext season with at most 6 or 7 of the following 8 dmen.

Matheson - Savard
Struble - Guhle
Xhekaj - Barron
Harris - Kovacevic

Plus, Reinbacher, Hutson, Mailloux, Engstrom, and Trudeau in Laval.

That means one or two have to be moved. Who are you moving? I say ideally Hartis as nd Kovacevic. But it depends on who gets what kind of offers.

 

[Habs13]

I think we should go into. Ext season with at most 6 or 7 of the following 8 dmen.

Matheson - Savard
Struble - Guhle
Xhekaj - Barron
Harris - Kovacevic

Plus, Reinbacher, Hutson, Mailloux, Engstrom, and Trudeau in Laval.

That means one or two have to be moved. Who are you moving? I say ideally Hartis as nd Kovacevic. But it depends on who gets what kind of offers.

Matheson, Savard, Harris in that order

 

[calder candidate]

Matheson, Savard, Harris in that order

Matheson is one no only one of the best D in the NHL right now he also on one of the best deal in the NHL, unless you are getting a crazy offer I don’t see why you trade him.
It help our young D code and also help us evaluate what we have.