NHL Status Report: Slavin returns from upper-body injury for Hurricanes against Kraken

New Jersey Devils

Johnathan Kovacevic is expected to make his season debut at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (2 p.m. ET; TSN3, NHLN, MSGSN). The defenseman, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Devils on March 7, 2025 ($4 million average annual value), had knee surgery in June. Kovacevic had 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) and was plus-10 in 81 games for New Jersey last season while averaging 19:49 of ice time. … Dougie Hamilton will be a healthy scratch; the defenseman has two points (one goal, one assist) in his past four games after a 17-game drought. Hamilton has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 40 games. … Evgenii Dadonov is expected to return Sunday after missing 22 games with a wrist injury; the forward practiced on a line with Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer on Saturday. … Stefan Noesen will have knee surgery this week, the Devils announced. The forward, who has been placed on injured reserve, has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 38 games. … Zack MacEwen is out for the remainder of the season after the forward had ACL surgery. MacEwen, who was acquired in a trade with the Senators for forward Kurtis MacDermid on Oct. 4, did not have a point in three games with New Jersey.