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New Jersey Devils: On The Beau Bennett Trade

June 27, 2016, 11:51 AM ET [91 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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On Day 2 of the 2016 NHL draft Ray Shero made his first move of the off-season in effort to upgrade the team's offense.

The New Jersey Devils shippe one of their three 3rd round picks to Pittsburgh in exchange for 24-year-old winger Beau Bennett.

I have some thoughts on the deal:

1) Over the course of Bennett's career to date he has averaged ~30 points per 82 games. That doesn't sound all that great but only four Devils had more than 30 points last season. Considering Bennett has been in and out of the lineup with injuries, and hasn't been given consistent minutes when healthy, that's decent production.

Bennett possesses good puck skills, speed and is undoubtedly an NHL player. The Devils don't have many forwards you could say the same about.

Paying a 3rd round pick is worth what he has brought to the table throughout his career. If he can find a way to stay semi-healthy and produce at a higher clip it'll be an added bonus.

2) Bennett's underlying numbers have been pretty impressive. Through 129 NHL games the Penguins have controlled 52.6% of the shot attempts at 5 v 5 as opposed to 50.4% without him. The Penguins have scored a hair under 52% of the 5 v 5 goals with Bennett on the ice, too. Staying healthy has been a problem, obviously, but good things tend to happen when he's out there.

3) A good chunk of 3rd round picks never play a game let alone become NHL regulars and/or make meaningful contributions. If Bennett plays, say, 40 games and puts up 20 points while driving possession it's more likely than not he'd be more valuable than the 3rd round pick (defenseman Connor Hall) will ever be.

4) Bennett fits in with the youth movement we're seeing from the Devils. Bennett is 24. Kyle Palmieri is 25. Adam Henrique is 26. Reid Boucher is 22. Joseph Blandisi is 21. Pavel Zacha is 19. Adam Larsson is 23. Damon Severson is 21.

The Devils are really building the base of their roster around skilled young players who can skate.

5) I'd be very surprised if the Devils were finished adding up front. They finished 29th in goals last year and Bennett, while a nice addition, won't move the needle that much even if he plays all 82 games. Ray Shero is well aware of that.

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