Devils sign Kovacevic to 5-year extension with $4M AAV

The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic to a five-year extension with an average annual value of $4 million, the team announced Friday.

Kovacevic has skated in all 63 games for the Devils in a top-four role this season, recording one goal and 13 assists while averaging almost 20 minutes of ice time per contest.

New Jersey has outscored opponents 33-29 with Kovacevic on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 223 pounds, he has 83 hits and 81 blocked shots. Kovacevic also leads the team in average shorthanded ice time (2:40 minutes).

The Devils acquired Kovacevic from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2026 fourth-round pick in June.

The 27-year-old was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Kovacevic has amassed 42 points in 206 games and is a career plus-26.