The Montreal Canadiens cut ties with Jonathan Kovacevic in the offseason, citing a concern over the number of defensemen vying for spots with the big club. It would've caused a couple of worthy NHL defensemen to be playing in Laval if they hadn't made some moves, and Kovacevic and Jordan Harris were the victims. Kovacevic united with former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe with the New Jersey Devils, which has proven to be a good combination.
Kovacevic started the year on fire for the Devils, angering some Canadiens fans. Montreal was one of the league's worst teams, and they had to watch Kovacevic be a star in New Jersey and receive a well-deserved long-term contract extension. However, the tides began to change as the Canadiens rose in the standings and the Devils plateaued, leading to Keefe's breaking-point comment on Saturday night.
"Kovacevic just needs to play better. That would help." 😬
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 23, 2025
Sheldon Keefe put his own player ON BLAST in his post-game presser 😳 pic.twitter.com/vhFVTQkjzc
Kovacevic spoke with reporters after the Devils' loss on Saturday night, commenting that the team needed a "playoff mindset" for the rest of the year. It was an understandable comment, as the Devils lack urgency, and a playoff mindset would help make that happen. For some reason, Keefe didn't like that comment, possibly feeling that Kovacevic was taking a shot at his coaching staff for failing to have the players ready.
Reporters brought up the comment to Keefe in his subsequent press conference. Keefe bluntly said, "Kovacevic just needs to play better. That would help." It was a shocking comment from a coach who was usually very casual in press conferences. Whether it's the growing pressure from the losing streak or a feeling of more freedom in New Jersey compared to Toronto, Keefe felt like this was a good thing to say. The reaction from people online tells people differently.
One of the problems with Kovacevic in Montreal was his inconsistency. I'm not saying it's okay for Keefe to make a public statement like this one about one of his players, but he's just confirming something that Canadiens fans were saying during Kovacevic's tenure. It isn't suitable for the Devils that this drama is going on as they try to hold a playoff spot. However, it's a small victory for the Canadiens and their fans that the defenseman they traded isn't having as much success as he initially did.