Karine Hains: In Hainsight: What to Expect from Jonathan Kovacevic How will Kovacevic follow up on his rookie season?

solid dman who should be able to improve his game, nice guy to have on the 3rd pair and on the PK. a bit like a Edmundson but for a fraction of the price. good waiver pickup.

Karine
Hains: In Hainsight: What to Expect from Jonathan Kovacevic
How will Kovacevic follow up on his rookie season?
- Karine Hains

I really like this pick up, he surprised me last year.

I expect Kovacevic to be a starter for most of the first part of the season, but we might see the Habs give some of the kids in Laval games near the end of the year, which might knock him down and even out of the line up.

I also really liked the Kovacevic-Harris pairing last year, too. Perhaps the most steady and consistent duo we had on the back-end... yeah, some of that was a result of injuries, but when they played, they played well.

If he has another solid (if unspectacular season), and other kids look ready, I would not be surprised to see him go at the TDL - get something for a decent player you never expected to have that also cost you nothing to get.

I really like this pick up, he surprised me last year.

I expect Kovacevic to be a starter for most of the first part of the season, but we might see the Habs give some of the kids in Laval games near the end of the year, which might knock him down and even out of the line up.

I also really liked the Kovacevic-Harris pairing last year, too. Perhaps the most steady and consistent duo we had on the back-end... yeah, some of that was a result of injuries, but when they played, they played well.

If he has another solid (if unspectacular season), and other kids look ready, I would not be surprised to see him go at the TDL - get something for a decent player you never expected to have that also cost you nothing to get.
- Mashadar

yeah, I think I would keep him. like I said you need that type of big physical dman on the 3rd pair and on the PK, something Barron and Mailloux won't do. once Savard is gone they'll need Kovacevic imo.

yeah, I think I would keep him. like I said you need that type of big physical dman on the 3rd pair and on the PK, something Barron and Mailloux won't do. once Savard is gone they'll need Kovacevic imo.
- fidopro

Lots of kids coming down the pike, so good luxury to have.

Savard will not be resigned. I wonder if Matheson is here for the whole duration of his contract, but I also suspect, will not be resigned. At that point Lane and Reinbacher should be here and there are others, too.

It is kind of exciting to have higher end prospects ready to jump in, rather than hoping the best defence prospect we have can cut it as a 6-7D man in the NHL, with an upside of being a #5.

Lots of kids coming down the pike, so good luxury to have.

Savard will not be resigned. I wonder if Matheson is here for the whole duration of his contract, but I also suspect, will not be resigned. At that point Lane and Reinbacher should be here and there are other, too.

It is kind of exciting to have higher end prospects ready to jump in, rather than hoping the best defence prospect we have can cut it as a 6-7D man in the NHL.
- Mashadar

oh yes, I forgot Reinbacher! lol
yep, very nice problem to have

I really like this pick up, he surprised me last year.

I expect Kovacevic to be a starter for most of the first part of the season, but we might see the Habs give some of the kids in Laval games near the end of the year, which might knock him down and even out of the line up.

I also really liked the Kovacevic-Harris pairing last year, too. Perhaps the most steady and consistent duo we had on the back-end... yeah, some of that was a result of injuries, but when they played, they played well.

If he has another solid (if unspectacular season), and other kids look ready, I would not be surprised to see him go at the TDL - get something for a decent player you never expected to have that also cost you nothing to get.
- Mashadar

They need to do a rotation and Kovacevic should be a part of that said rotation, I would think.

But its nice to have options and some form of internal competition. Its healthy for a team.

Before trading him or Savard, lets see how the kids do on the ;blueline this season. Lots of sophomore d in our line up (Guhle, Harris, Barron, Wifi and maybe Kovacevic himself, even if hes older, not much NHL games experience there).

Some of them will struggle or at least, thats what fans should expect from our young blueline. Its a process and we have to be patients.

They need to do a rotation and Kovacevic should be a part of that said rotation, I would think.

But its nice to have options and some form of internal competition. Its healthy for a team.

Before trading him or Savard, lets see how the kids do on the ;blueline this season. Lots of sophomorere d in our line up (Guhle, Harris, Barron, Wifi and maybe Kovacevvic himself, even if hes older, not much NHL games experience there).

Some of them will struggle or at least, thats what fans should expect from our young blueline. Its a process and we have to be patients.
- deadpoulet

I said since last year that the 4 kids (WiFi, Harris, Kovacevic, and Barron) should rotate in / out of the last 3 spots this year... they could get about 60 games each, more for some if they are playing a lot better than others.

Still think, generally, that Barron is the odd man out.

Nitpick, but it's Johnathan.

I said since last year that the 4 kids (WiFi, Harris, Kovacevic, and Barron) should rotate in / out of the last 3 spots this year... they could get about 60 games each, more for some if they are playing a lot better than others.

Still think, generally, that Barron is the odd man out.
- Mashadar

and there's always injuries

and there's always injuries
- fidopro

So the ECHL defencemen should be getting some looks this year, then.

So the ECHL defencemen should be getting some looks this year, then.
- Mashadar

meh, the kid we got from DET and Wideman are there for that

and there's always injuries
- fidopro

this

dont know if everybody will be good to go to start the season

and am I the only one who worry a lot about Ghule's knees? He's the best of the kids on the blueline by far right now (the ones in the NHL already), but he already had multiples knees injuries at a very young age.

If healthy, no worry from me for that guy. He plays like a vet already.

meh, the kid we got from DET and Wideman are there for that
- fidopro

I hope they are really spending a lot of time working on mitigating injuries and putting proper protocols in place - making sure players are better prepared so they do not happen, not letting players rush back to get re-injured, etc...

There has been something seriously wrong in Montreal for the last few years.

I hope they are really spending a lot of time working on mitigating injuries and putting proper protocols in place - making sure players are better prepared so they do not happen, not letting players rush back to get re-injured, etc...

There has been something seriously wrong in Montreal for the last few years.
- Mashadar

Basically explains the waiting time in emergency rooms by itself.

I hope they are really spending a lot of time working on mitigating injuries and putting proper protocols in place - making sure players are better prepared so they do not happen, not letting players rush back to get re-injured, etc...

There has been something seriously wrong in Montreal for the last few years.
- Mashadar

yep, I think players had too much power. Monahan playing on his bad ankle in CGY, Gally returning too soon, Guhle returning too soon when the season is over... that's a patern.

Responsible, safe, pretty solid d-man, but one that might be getting close to his ceiling , which makes it likely the young up and coming d-men push him out. If he has a solid season, TDL prospect....but the others need to be showing enough before making that trade,

Nitpick, but it's Johnathan.
- jugkope

and...?

he isn't necessarily offensively gifted nor is he a very flashy player, but that's not his role on the team anyway. I think you can still have reasonable expectations from him, such as being a reliable presence that can be used in basically any situation without having to worry if he'll put you in trouble with bad decision-making.

and...?

he isn't necessarily offensively gifted nor is he a very flashy player, but that's not his role on the team anyway. I think you can still have reasonable expectations from him, such as being a reliable presence that can be used in basically any situation without having to worry if he'll put you in trouble with bad decision-making.
- Pat1993

I mostly meant, his name is misspelled, this is a website with standards.

I mostly meant, his name is misspelled, this is a website with standards.
- jugkope

oh, well carry on then...

anyway it's likely that his parents made the spelling mistake when they named him, if anything Karine was only making a necessary correction. poor kid.

I mostly meant, his name is misspelled, this is a website with standards.
- jugkope

what god damn standards are you talking about?

I mostly meant, his name is misspelled, this is a website with standards.
- jugkope

Might want to talk to EK about that....

what god damn standards are you talking about?
- deadpoulet

as a blogger I think Karine does have her own personal standards, she always puts out quality stuff, but for posters in general on HB it's best not to think about it too hard and go with the flow. can't be disappointed when you have zero standards or expectations lol.

Might want to talk to EK about that....
- Mashadar

hey man, it's just that he isn't afraid to make mistakes, it's how he stands out from everyone else.