Where would the Montreal Canadiens be this season if they hadn't traded Johnathan Kovacevic in the offseason? Kovacevic has flourished with more ice time in the New Jersey Devils organization, and the Canadiens are left wondering why they gave up on him so early. Maybe Kovacevic needed a fresh start and would've never had the same season if he stayed in Montreal, but it's something that the front office will always have to wonder.
RG.org reported on Thursday morning that Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils are interested in extending the 2025 unrestricted free agent Kovacevic. Interestingly, the Devils already have Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce on the right side, which means Kovacevic would lock down that side of their defense core for a long time. The right side full for 3+ years makes it difficult for Seamus Casey and Simon Nemec to find a full-time spot on the roster.
A long-term extension for Kovacevic could drive Nemec to request a trade. If the Devils know this, they are choosing Kovacevic over the former 2022 second-overall draft pick. It isn't all relative, but when you consider that the Canadiens traded Kovacevic for a fourth-round draft pick this past offseason, it gives the Devils tremendous value if they see him as an improvement over Nemec. The Devils can now trade Nemec for immediate help this season and make a Stanley Cup push.
The Canadiens knew they needed to make a move to free up some space on their blue line. They made two moves to trade Kovacevic and Jordan Harris. Montreal decided to keep Justin Barron over Kovacevic, which seemed like a mistake early in the season. Kent Hughes and the front office did save it by making the savvy move to acquire Alexandre Carrier for Barron during the season. However, in theory, they could've had both Kovacevic and Carrier on their blue line right now if they played their cards right.
It's easy to question a move in hindsight, but seeing Kovacevic's success doesn't sting any less. If he goes on to become a centerpiece for the Devils, Canadiens fans will always come back to the trade for a fourth-rounder. If Kovacevic had the same season in Montreal as in New Jersey, the Canadiens are likely firmly in a playoff spot.
Fans can hope for the player's sake that he signs a massive extension and gets the money he earned. However, it's okay to wish it was on a contract with the Canadiens logo at the top instead of the Devils.