Johnathan Kovacevic
Goals: 1 Assists: 10 Points: 11
Grade: A
The Devils and Tom Fitzgerald made the best trade of the offseason when they added Johnathan Kovacevic to their defense. The Montreal Canadiens basically gave him to the Devils for the small price of a fourth-round pick. Kovacevic was expected to be a seventh defenseman, but Simon Nemec struggled mightily to start the season, and the Devils were able to keep Kovacevic in the lineup while sending Nemec to the Utica Comets.
Kovacevic has been one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL. He's ninth in the league in high-danger chances against per 60 minutes (minimum 100 minutes played). His pairing with Jonas Siegenthaler has been a shutdown pair all season. They had one bad game that knocked them out of the top spot, but outside of the last game against the Sharks, they've been super stars.
Jonas Siegenthaler
Goals: 2 Assists: 7 Points 9
Grade: A
Siegenthaler is back, and we couldn't be happier. After a down season in 2023-24, Siegenthaler needed to have a great season this year. He has a long-term deal, and the Devils needed to get as much return on investment as possible. They moved some of the other question marks on defense like Kevin Bahl and John Marino. Siegenthaler clearly stayed for a reason.
His connection with Kovacevic is near the top of all defensive pairings in the league. Of players with at least 400 minutes together, these two are the best in the league in xGoals allowed per 60 minutes. They are the purest of shutdown pairs in this league. In 590 5v5 minutes together, they've allowed 14 goals. That's psychotic.