The Montreal Canadiens’ recent trade history under general manager Kent Hughes has largely been marked by shrewd moves and calculated risks. Yet, not every deal has gone according to plan. In the summer of 2024, a seemingly minor transaction sent defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils for a future draft pick—a move that initially went under the radar.

However, as the new season unfolded, the absence of Kovacevic became increasingly noticeable, especially as Montreal’s blue line faced persistent challenges on the right side. Meanwhile, Kovacevic found his stride in New Jersey, earning a significant contract extension and establishing himself as a key piece of their defensive corps. The ripple effects of this trade have sparked debate among fans and analysts, raising questions about asset management and the unpredictable nature of player development in the NHL. As the Canadiens continue to search for stability on defense, the irony of their situation is hard to ignore, highlighting the delicate balance between immediate needs and long-term planning in professional hockey.

Photo credit: NHL

Since arriving with the Montreal Canadiens, it’s fair to say that Kent Hughes has rarely missed the mark when it comes to making trades.

Except, perhaps, in the summer of 2024, when he traded defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.

At the time, it seemed like a fairly insignificant deal, as Kovacevic no longer appeared to be part of the organization’s plans.

However, the Canadiens’ defensive unit struggled early in the season-especially on the right side-and having Kovacevic around would’ve certainly helped Martin St. Louis.

Especially considering the Devils turned the 27-year-old blueliner into one of their regulars throughout the season, and general manager Tom Fitzgerald rewarded him with a new contract worth $4 million per year, running through 2030.

He’s developed into a strong defensive defenseman in the NHL and is now looking to follow in the footsteps of a certain Jaccob Slavin..

A 2024 Trade Between the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils That Hurts

But as you know, Kent Hughes corrected that mistake in December when he acquired Alexandre Carrier from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Justin Barron.

Max Van Houtte shared that thought, as you can see below.

“It took that miracle trade, the brain cramp from the Nashville Predators, who handed Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens on a silver platter, to fix that mistake!”

– Max Van Houtte

We now know what happened next, the Quebec-born defenseman has become a cornerstone of the Canadiens’ young blue line and will take on an even bigger role following the departure of David Savard.

Still, there’s something ironic about the Canadiens spending this summer hunting for a reliable right-shot defenseman-essentially looking for.. a Johnathan Kovacevic.