Devils activate Johnathan Kovacevic off injured reserve

The New Jersey Devils have officially activated defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic off injured reserve, making him eligible for his season debut. The 29-year-old blueliner is set to return to the lineup on Saturday night when New Jersey hosts the Vancouver Canucks. Kovacevic had been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in May, which also restricted his activity during training camp.

Kovacevic is entering the second season of a five-year contract extension carrying a $4 million annual average value through 2028-29. He aims to rebound from an injury-plagued 2025-26 campaign that limited him to eight assists across 34 games, following a career-best 17-point season with the Devils in 2024-25.