Kovacevic, Holm excited for opportunities in camp

WINNIPEG - As the Winnipeg Jets Pro Mini Camp gets into the final couple days, Johnathan Kovacevic and Arvid Holm can hardly wait for the opportunities that could be ahead of them.
Neither player has suited up for the Jets in a preseason game, but with six of them on the schedule, the thought of doing just that is enticing.
"I'm eager and excited and hopefully I can get into a couple preseason games," said Kovacevic on Sunday. "I feel like that's where really you can show what you can do."

The 24-year-old Kovacevic certainly showed what he's capable of in an incredible finish to his 2020-21 American Hockey League campaign.
Of the 14 points he racked up 29 games, 11 of them came in the final 10 games of the season. There was also an occasion where the right-shot defenceman played over 38 minutes on April 8 against Belleville.

"I was trying not to overextend myself and just stay within myself," Kovacevic said with a grin, before shifting focus to the improvement he's seen in his entire game during his 75 total AHL games.
"There's a lot of things that happen in pro. I feel like I'm a person that cares a lot, and sometimes I care too much about one thing or let one thing affect me," he said. "Versus now, I guess more mature in knowing what to put my energy into, what not to put my energy into and I feel like for me that's helped a lot."
Playing at the pro level has also helped Holm, a goaltender the Jets drafted in the sixth round in 2017, develop into the player he is today - ready to take on his first National Hockey League training camp.
Over the last two seasons, Holm has played in 55 games for Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League, posting a 0.915 and a 0.914 save percentage in those seasons.
"It's been a steady curve upwards. I feel I improve each year and matured into the pro game back home," said Holm. "Also, I was given great opportunities back home to play a lot of games, which you can't take for granted. I'm very thankful of that. I feel like I'm ready to come over here and play a lot of games as well."

As he played, the 22-year-old Holm continued to learn. There wasn't one particular goaltender he tried to model his game after, instead he took pieces of multiple goaltenders.
"You have a guy that retired, Henrik Lundqvist, you have Tuukka Rask with his good hands," said Holm. "Then, obviously, having one of the best here in Winnipeg - I've looked at him for a few years - in Connor (Hellebuyck) and how technically good he is."
In a matter of a couple days, Holm and Hellebuyck will be in the same training camp as the Jets prepare for their first preseason game on Sept. 26 at Canada Life Centre against the Ottawa Senators.
Whether Holm plays in that game, or any other one, the training camp experience itself will be a new career milestone.
"It's going to be huge and fun. We don't really have training camps back home. We have a long preseason, but no training camp," Holm said. "It's my first time and I feel like all the guys have said it's a lot of fun and very competitive. I'll try and get on their level in the competitiveness and go from there."
Competition was the name of the game on Sunday at Mini Camp, as the players engaged in some one-on-one battle drills.
For the first few days of the camp, the forwards and defencemen skated in separate ice sessions. On Sunday, they were combined for the first time, and the battle was on.
"It gets us ready for camp and we're going to be doing those battles at camp, too," said Kovacevic. "There's certain things, I know I haven't done those one-on-one battles, certainly, since last season. It's good to get warmed up and get the gears moving for camp."
And the fact Jets head coach Paul Maurice, who controls the line-up for those incredibly important preseason games, is watching every single drill? Definitely an added incentive.
"Especially when you're the only two guys going and everyone is watching," said Kovacevic. "It's a little extra into it but at the same time, you don't want them to be a distraction. Play your game."