Jets sign defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic to a three-year contract

The Winnipeg Jets announced today they have agreed to terms with defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic on a three-year contract with an average annual value in the NHL of $766,700. The structure of the contract is a two-way deal in 2022-23 and 2023-24 and a one-way deal in 2024-25.

Kovacevic, 25, made his NHL debut with the Jets in 2021-22 and played four games for the club. He also played 62 games for the Manitoba Moose last season and led Moose defencemen in goals (11) while adding 19 assists for 30 points along with 45 penalty minutes. Kovacevic won his second consecutive Best Defenceman Award for Manitoba in 2021-22 after setting new single-season highs for games played, points, goals, and assists. Winnipeg’s third round pick (74^th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, he made his professional debut with Manitoba in 2018-19 and has played 137 games for the Moose and posted 58 points (18G, 40A) and 103 PIMs.

Kovacevic, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., played a pair of junior seasons in the CCHL with the Ottawa Jr. Senators and the Hawkesbury Hawks and recorded 55 points (13G, 42A) and 47 PIMs in 103 games. He added 10 assists and 16 PIMs in 20 playoff games. Kovacevic then spent three seasons with Merrimack College and recorded 54 points (9G, 45A) and 58 PIMs in 101 games.