Johnathan Kovacevic signs contract extension with New Jersey

Former Merrimack defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic signed a five-year extension with the New Jersey Devils on Friday which will pay him a total of $20 million.

Kovacevic was traded to the Devils in the offseason from the Montreal Canadiens. He has played in all 63 games this season and has 14 points (1g-13a). Kovacevic is New Jersey’s top penalty-killing defenseman, leading the team in TOI on the penalty kill.

Kovacevic was due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The breakdown of the deal carries an AAV of $4.0 million per season and breaks down like this:

2025-26: $5.25 million
2026-27: $4.75 million
2027-28: $3.70 million
2028-29: $3.15 million
2029-30: $3.15 million

The contract will take Kovacevic through his 32-year-old season and it’s a big raise for the Ontario native, who is paid $766,667 this season.

Kovacevic is Merrimack’s all-time leading NHL scorer with 42 points in 206 career games. Kovacevic only trails Steve McKenna (373 games) for all-time among alums in career NHL games.