Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: On Kyle Palmieri & The Expansion Draft

Love Cammalleri but if New Jersey is out of it come trade deadline this season (and if he isn't hurt (BIG IF)) I'd like the Devils to move one. Trade him to a contender and continue the "rebuild"

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: On Kyle Palmieri & The Expansion Draft
- Todd.Cordell

Come on, Todd. Keeping Josefson and exposing Moore? I realize this isn't an actual worry right now, but I need justification on that one. At the very least, should they continue to struggle and miss the playoffs, Moore could be a piece moved at the deadline for something. Josefson has age on his side but can't produce and can't stay in the lineup. No chance I'd protect him.

I think guys like Clowe won't be included.

Disagree with you Todd on a couple of the expansion picks. I would keep Zajac over Josefson, he still is a top 6 guy, JJ is not and while his best days are behind him, I would take 40 points over whatever Josefson had. And I believe Zajac has a NMC/NTC so he would have to be protected.

And if Cam misses another half year, I would expose him or trade him at the deadline next year if he doesn't miss too many games. A team like NSH could be a good option for Cam, gives them a 1st line LW.

And hell I would try to trade Zajac to say MIN for Vanek and a pick and sell them on the chemistry that him and Parise had.

Come on, Todd. Keeping Josefson and exposing Moore? I realize this isn't an actual worry right now, but I need justification on that one. At the very least, should they continue to struggle and miss the playoffs, Moore could be a piece moved at the deadline for something. Josefson has age on his side but can't produce and can't stay in the lineup. No chance I'd protect him.
- jersey1414

I wouldn't protect him, but the expansion rules are that you can only protect 3 defensemen, and I wouldn't trade Larsson or Severson right now, unless we get something worthwhile.

I heard that an exception for players with career ending injuries will be enacted meaning they will not have to be protected.

Ryan Clowe, Chris Pronger, Nathan Horton etc.

I think guys like Clowe won't be included.

Disagree with you Todd on a couple of the expansion picks. I would keep Zajac over Josefson, he still is a top 6 guy, JJ is not and while his best days are behind him, I would take 40 points over whatever Josefson had. And if Cam misses another half year, I would expose him or trade him at the deadline next year if he does miss too many games.

And hell I would try to trade Zajac to say MIN for Vanek and a pick and sell them on the chemistry that him and Parise had.
- Devils9503

Maybe not Vanek, but I wouldn't mind moving Zajac for another bad contract. At least someone who is a partial offensive threat. Don't sell me on faceoffs or defensive prowess, the guy is a decent center getting paid all-star money.

Maybe not Vanek, but I wouldn't mind moving Zajac for another bad contract. At least someone who is a partial offensive threat. Don't sell me on faceoffs or defensive prowess, the guy is a decent center getting paid all-star money.
- jersey1414

The problem is though, is that without taking money back, which I would try not to, that is impossible to do that deal you want with the amount of years on Zajac. And I targeted MIN because of the Vanek situation and the Parise connection.

Facts are facts, Zajac is an excellent two-way guy who is good defensively and on the PK. Not sure what everyone else thinks, I've always seen him for what he is.

Is he overpaid? Probably. But, consider the context of the roster he's on and been on.

Honestly, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see a contender pay him $5M+ to shore up their bottom 6 (where he belongs on a team with legit top 6 talent) because he would instantly make quite possible any team in the league's PK and defense better.

He can't produce poop for offense like a top 6, but he really is a great defensive minded forward.

You might be able to argue for a few others, but he's easily been NJ's best player in terms of a shutdown center. His skills have declined a bit, but that's natural with age.

The question remains for those who want to see him gone so badly, who are you going to replace him with that brings what he brings defensively AND scores enough to appease you?

In relation to the expansion, I would rather keep Zajac and lose Josefson.

Besides, they need to reach the cap floor and having a slightly overpaid Zajac isn't a bad thing at this point and honestly it probably won't be moving forward. They will have plenty of cap room.

I think they should expose Greene. With the length of his contract, and the age he'll be when it's over, along with the cost per year, I think it's very unlikely he'd be picked.

Of course, if the defense looks similar to what it is now, I'd definitely protect Greene before Moore. Santini won't be eligible, so no worries.

And I definitely protect JJ - he's a valuable role player, IMO.

Facts are facts, Zajac is an excellent two-way guy who is good defensively and on the PK. Not sure what everyone else thinks, I've always seen him for what he is.

Is he overpaid? Probably. But, consider the context of the roster he's on and been on.

Honestly, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see a contender pay him $5M+ to shore up their bottom 6 (where he belongs on a team with legit top 6 talent) because he would instantly make quite possible any team in the league's PK and defense better.

He can't produce poop for offense like a top 6, but he really is a great defensive minded forward.

You might be able to argue for a few others, but he's easily been NJ's best player in terms of a shutdown center. His skills have declined a bit, but that's natural with age.

The question remains for those who want to see him gone so badly, who are you going to replace him with that brings what he brings defensively AND scores enough to appease you?

In relation to the expansion, I would rather keep Zajac and lose Josefson.

Besides, they need to reach the cap floor and having a slightly overpaid Zajac isn't a bad thing at this point and honestly it probably won't be moving forward. They will have plenty of cap room.
- FLdevilsFAN

He's a "good" two way guy. If he was "great" he'd actually contribute offensively. Didn't Todd show a shot chart last year showing that Zajac only scores within like 10 feet of the net? He's not a threat at all...and he's not some amazing passer either. He's decent on faceoffs, I'll give him that.

I think you are getting bogged up with this idea of a "shutdown guy." They don't really exist anymore. Sure, there's the Bergeron's, Toews, and Datsyuk's of the world, but they play both ends and get compensated for it. The days of a John Madden or Claude Lemieux are long gone.

The success of recent cup winners shows you need to have four lines that contribute and the days of 2 offensive lines, one shutdown line, and a fourth line with extremely limited minutes in the 3rd period don't exist. Depth wins.

Im not saying Zajac is great or going to tell you he is worth what his contract is or anything... but for those who complain he doesn't produce, he had 42 points in 74 games this year, that's not bad at all. Especially when considering 141 players this year had 43 points or more = 4.7 players per team, that puts him (on average) in the top five in points on any team in the league (again its just an average, I realize the better teams probably have more and the weaker teams less). I'd say for being a 'defensive' specialist that's not bad at all.

No he doesn't put up 60+ points like we all want him to, but for being a defensive player in our top 6 I don't get all the hate on these sites.

I could be wrong on this but isn't josefson an UFA next summer? If he is the devils don't haved to protect him anyway?

Come on, Todd. Keeping Josefson and exposing Moore? I realize this isn't an actual worry right now, but I need justification on that one. At the very least, should they continue to struggle and miss the playoffs, Moore could be a piece moved at the deadline for something. Josefson has age on his side but can't produce and can't stay in the lineup. No chance I'd protect him.


- jersey1414

I'm not sure if that has something to do with how the NHL doesn't want to have payers exposed with only 1 year left on their deals? That might only mean players that are on contracts that expire that summer or if it means those that expire the year after that, I'm not sure. Either way, with Cammaleri's deal set to expire after the 2018-19 season, his deal shouldn't affect the team negatively as they try to become competitive. We'll want to have at least one or two veteran guys up front too, so if we expose both him and Zajac, that doesn't leave anyone with much experience on offense outside of Palmieri himself and Henrique, both of whom will still be under 30 by the time the expansion draft occurs.

As for Josefson, he's a solid 4th liner that adds value to the PK and can play the PP on the 2nd unit well enough. He won't be commanding a contract of more than $1.25M per unless he magically figures out how to score, so keeping him on won't make much of a difference as there aren't many other players that we'll be struggling to find a way to protect.

Moore plays D. Can only protect 3 which he said Greene Larson and severson

Two deals I think make sense.

I think NJ needs to take a page out or TOR's book. NOT TANKING THOUGH.

They should get guys for short term to get assets next year/deadline.

MIN wants to trade Vanek and NSH wants to trade Ribeiro.

If you trade Cam to NSH, while retaining 2 mil, for a 2nd this year and Ribeiro, that would save NSH 500,000 to put towards Forsberg.

If you trade Zajac to MIN for Vanek and a conditional pick next year, I think that could work. MIN would save 750,000. If Zajac doesn't work out for MIN and Parise, then they could expose him and gave up a mid pick to get rid of Vanek. If they keep him, we get their 2nd next year.

Vanek and Ribeiro would fill both holes left by trading Cam and Zajac next year, giving other guys more time, like Zacha. And we could trade them at the deadline for even more assets. And Vanek would be healthy and Ribeiro would be more offensive.

Travis Zajac is a third line center except it and move on.

I could be wrong on this but isn't josefson an UFA next summer? If he is the devils don't haved to protect him anyway?
- devfan30

Per GeneralFanager.com JJ is an RFA right now, so I'd guess it depends on what they sign him to.

This expansion poop is dumb, there's still plenty of teams that can't compete, lets water it down more.

This expansion poop is dumb, there's still plenty of teams that can't compete, lets water it down more.
- shvingter88

My thoughts exactly.

Now, this is textbook trolling, but I'll preface my comment by first stating...

A) I really like Todd and enjoy most of his blogs.
B) I think Kyle Palmieri is a really, really good hockey player.

But as a Flyers fan, I really, REALLLLLY hope the Devils give him $33 million as Todd suggests

Now, this is textbook trolling, but I'll preface my comment by first stating...

A) I really like Todd and enjoy most of his blogs.
B) I think Kyle Palmieri is a really, really good hockey player.

But as a Flyers fan, I really, REALLLLLY hope the Devils give him $33 million as Todd suggests
- mochoson

Can't be any worse than Andrew macdonald

Las Vegas is going to have to reach the cap floor, so they definitely will be forced to take on some expensive, lengthy contracts. Zajac and cammy are still a big part of this team NOW. keyword being NOW. I have no desire to pay cammy 5 mill a year for the last two years of his contract or zajac 5.75 through 2021. They're both expendable after this season IMO. Vegas will be doing us a favor if they take one of those two.

I know we have lots of cap room, but that can go fast. Lou's fingerprints will still be on this team for years to come with these terrible contracts smh. Now that he's in Toronto he wants to do what he should've been doing in NJ the last 3 years.

Las Vegas is going to have to reach the cap floor, so they definitely will be forced to take on some expensive, lengthy contracts. Zajac and cammy are still a big part of this team NOW. keyword being NOW. I have no desire to pay cammy 5 mill a year for the last two years of his contract or zajac 5.75 through 2021. They're both expendable after this season IMO. Vegas will be doing us a favor if they take one of those two.

I know we have lots of cap room, but that can go fast. Lou's fingerprints will still be on this team for years to come with these terrible contracts smh. Now that he's in Toronto he wants to do what he should've been doing in NJ the last 3 years.
- rawwdogg88

Lou was trying to keep a great team going and seemed to not realize it was game over after the Kovy & Parise apocalypse. So he plugged holes and outside of goaltending it mostly all went bad. Toronto had already decided on the rebuild before drafting Lou.

Cammy wasn't a bad signing. He was one of only two legit offensive FA and has produced here. Travis is an expensive and too long contract, but I think it was pre-cap and they were all kinda nuts then.

Regardless, I'd rather trade these guys the let Vegas have them. Both should moveable.

Las Vegas is going to have to reach the cap floor, so they definitely will be forced to take on some expensive, lengthy contracts. Zajac and cammy are still a big part of this team NOW. keyword being NOW. I have no desire to pay cammy 5 mill a year for the last two years of his contract or zajac 5.75 through 2021. They're both expendable after this season IMO. Vegas will be doing us a favor if they take one of those two.

I know we have lots of cap room, but that can go fast. Lou's fingerprints will still be on this team for years to come with these terrible contracts smh. Now that he's in Toronto he wants to do what he should've been doing in NJ the last 3 years.
- rawwdogg88

Thats a good point, expansion draft might help us out