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With the trade deadline less than a week away, and the New Jersey Devils having another off-day, I decided to do one last Q&A post prior to all the action.

Let's get right to it.

@ToddCordell teams will be trading D before losing them in the exp draft, think we see any movement at the deadline?

— Neil (@WhatNeilDrinks) February 23, 2017

I'm sure we'll see a couple deals to help teams get ready for expansion, but I don't think any big fish will be dealt until the off-season. Most teams lucky enough to have a plethora of quality defensemen (i.e. Anaheim) happen to be very good so they want to keep those guys for the playoffs.

@ToddCordell not deadline, but draft. Do you like Tippett for the Devils? Does he play with McCleod?

— Tyler Zupan (@tzupes) February 23, 2017

Tippett has spent a lot of time on Michael McLeod's line over the last year and a half and I do like his game. He's a good skater with one of the best shots and releases in this class. He reminds me a little of Phil Kessel in that regard. It depends where the Devils pick but he could be an option.

@ToddCordell other than Quincy and PAP, do you see anyone else on the move? Draft picks obviously coming back, do you see a player coming in

— Mec (@mec974) February 23, 2017

I think the Devils would be willing to move Mike Cammalleri. I doubt there is much interest given his contract (he still has two years left at $5 million per), though perhaps the Devils could find a suitor if they eat some of the money.

Other than that, there aren't many guys it makes sense for the Devils to sell. There aren't many big contracts and a lot of the guys on the team now are young and have futures with the team. The Devils also have to make sure they have enough players that meet the criteria for exposure in the expansion draft.

@ToddCordell there are obviously rentals they can deal, but can you see them making a move for a significant player before the offseason?

— Kyle Runko (@runkokyle7) February 23, 2017

I doubt it. Ray Shero has done a great job of accumulating assets so I don't see him racing to give them away for the first player that catches his interest. There will be many more quality players available in the summer.

@ToddCordell what kind of return do the Devils get for PAP and Quincey?

— Eddie Strobino (@Stromboli88) February 23, 2017

I'm torn on if the Devils will get a 2nd or a 3rd for Parenteau. On one hand, he is on pace for almost 20 goals and is solid in possession. A 2nd makes sense for that kind of player. On the other, he did the same thing last year and was still passed over by many teams on waivers. Okay, I just talked myself into the return being a 3rd rounder.

As for Quincey, I've been thinking a 4th rounder all year but Ron Hainsey just fetched the Hurricanes a 2nd so maybe he can fetch a 3rd ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

@ToddCordell over or under on the number of trades the Devils make in the week up to the deadline. Over or under 3

— Rosetti25 (@Rosetti25) February 23, 2017

Let's go with a push. Kyle Quincey out, P.A. Parenteau out, and maybe the Devils take a chance on someone like Mikhail Grigorenko for pennies to fill Parenteau's forward spot up front.

@ToddCordell How much of Cammy's salary would the Devils need to keep to move him?

— Tim Greaux (@tgreaux) February 23, 2017

I think it'd have to be a good chunk. His season numbers don't look terrible but I doubt teams will line up to acquire a player with one goal in 34 games, especially when said player is pulling in $5 million per for two more years.

@ToddCordell Is the Devils lack of success just a lack of talent? I don't see Hynes as the problem.

— Steve Mormando (@DerMando) February 23, 2017

It's hard to blame the coaching staff for struggling to get wins with a team that features two top-4 defensemen. If Ray Shero adds a legitimate puck mover or two and the Devils struggle, then we can start pointing some fingers.

@ToddCordell who do the Devils bring back next year/let walk? JJ? DSP? Beau? Etc. Thanks!

— Devils Guy (@njdevils_talk) February 23, 2017

I think Bennett will be back. The organization seemed ready to move on from Josefson but his play this year, particularly with Pavel Zacha, may have earned him another year. I don't see any way Devante Smith-Pelly sticks around.

@ToddCordell To my understanding, Kovalchuk could legally return to the NHL next season, would/should Devs make a pitch? Him and Hall hmmm..

— JEFF WIDNER (@Legen_daryy) February 23, 2017

To return next year he'd need to apply for reinstatement and have GMs vote for approval. Otherwise, he can't return another year.

@ToddCordell do you see them using the expansion draft to target teams that would lose significant talent? Such as tampa bay?

— John R Joyce (@JohnJoyceHockey) February 23, 2017

That, my friend, is exactly what I see the Devils doing. They'll target teams in trouble and offer a lifeline in the way of cap space + draft picks.

@ToddCordell are any players 100 percent safe at the deadline?

— Michael Kaufer (@kaufermj14) February 23, 2017

Cory Schneider, Taylor Hall, Andy Greene, Damon Severson and all the key young pieces (Zacha, McLeod, John Quenneville, Miles Wood, etc.) I'm sure the Devils would at least listen to offers on anyone else.

@ToddCordell give me one BIG trade you'd like to see New Jersey involved in (could be deadline or over the summer)

— StevefromNewJersey (@NJDDiehard) February 23, 2017

Let's go right back to the well and snag up Sami Vatanen from the Ducks. He makes a good first pass, he can skate, he can shoot and he's pretty feisty considering his stature.

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Thanks to all for the great questions. If I didn't get to yours in the post, I'll try to do so on Twitter.

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