The New Jersey Devils have pulled the trigger on their first trade of the day. Unsurprisingly, it involves Wayne Simmonds.
What is surprising: the landing spot.
Simmonds, a pending UFA, will be heading to a Buffalo Sabres team that sits six-to-eight points out of the playoffs. They have just a 2 percent chance of making the dance, according to Dom Luszczyszn of The Athletic.
Interim GM Tom Fitzgerald fetched a conditional 5th round pick, that could turn into a 4th, in exchange for a couple months of Simmonds’ services.
The return is softer than I expected based on recent reports – from top insiders, no less – that Simmonds was drawing interest from multiple teams.
There was speculation the Vancouver Canucks would be willing to part with a defense prospect like Olli Juolevi or Jett Woo. So, in that regard, a conditional 5th is quite underwhelming.
Realistically speaking, that’s all Simmonds is worth at this point in his career. His offensive game has completely dried up, he’s not a good skater, and he’s not a plus-defender.
Wayne Simmonds has been below replacement over the last three seasons. pic.twitter.com/tGXJigJ7g2
— Evolving-Hockey (@EvolvingHockey) February 24, 2020
If Simmonds wasn’t going to be sticking around – obviously the case – it makes sense to take anything you can get. That’s what Fitzgerald did.
I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t make another move or two this afternoon.
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