Johnathan Kovacevic got scratched by Sheldon Keefe

For a second year in a row, Jack Hughes will have played only 62 games for the New Jersey Devils. Injured after a heavy fall against the boards in a game against the Golden Knights at the beginning of the month, the 23-year-old American will miss another opportunity to participate in the playoffs in 2025.

After a harvest of 112 points in 2022-2023, the Devils had a relatively disastrous season, compared to expectations, the following year, and now find themselves in a decent situation, on the eve of a return to the playoffs, but without their best player.

After losing 6 of their last 10 games, tensions are rising and yesterday, the head coach lashed out at Johnathan Kovacevic.

It’s a rare phenomenon to see a coach throw a player under the bus, but that’s exactly what he did, and it’s hard to understand why when listening to the defenseman’s comments.

“We’re in a battle that, I hope, will bring us into a playoff mindset, 10 or 11 games from the playoffs, which will translate into playoffs. Obviously, the results are tough, but we’ll fight and we won’t give up.”

– Johnathan Kovacevic

Is that okay, so far?

A journalist from New Jersey reported to Sheldon Keefe that his defenseman had wished for the team to adopt a playoff mindset, and he responded with something that looks a lot like “stop talking and play better.” In reality, Keefe simply replied that “Kovacevic should play better, that would help.”

“Kovacevic just needs to play better. That would help.”

Sheldon Keefe wasn’t holding back on Kavacevic after he told the media that the team needs to have a “playoff mindset” heading down the stretch.

pic.twitter.com/HYl8GdlRYX

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 23, 2025

The comment is all the more bizarre since Kovacevic signed a new 5-year, $20 million contract with New Jersey just two weeks ago.

Some Devils fans have also questioned, with reason, where the same attitude is from the coach with other players who are producing. The team may have conceded 16 goals in their last 4 games, but they’ve also only scored 2.5 goals per game.

I don’t listen to Devils games assiduously, but the statistics sheet tells us that the former CH player took a penalty last night and had finished two games at -2 in the last four games. But come on, the guy is still +12 on the season and constantly one of the team’s most stable defensemen.

Here’s the opinion of a journalist on the beat in New Jersey.

Last two games have been tougher (-2) so it’s an extremely recent thing.

Just think some frustration boiled over for Keefe.

— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) March 23, 2025

In short, the coach is frustrated, and he’s taking a shot at one of his best defensemen.

I’m sure that will help the atmosphere in the locker room.

In Overtime

– Great start to the season for McLaren.

Oscar Piastri leads a McLaren double at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prixhttps://t.co/0hTCO4HNdP

— RDS (@RDSca) March 23, 2025

– Xavier Villeneuve in the mold of Lane Hutson, but some humility is needed. [RDS]

– New contract for Alejandro Kirk in Toronto. [PassionMLB]