The New Jersey Devils did get involved in the action on deadline day as they pulled the trigger on a trade with the Edmonton Oilers.
In exchange for a 2019 3rd round pick, and prospect Joey Dudek, the Devils acquired veteran winger Patrick Maroon.
I have some thoughts on the trade:
1) The New Jersey Devils have not had steady secondary scoring since the first month of the season when Brian Gibbons, Brian Boyle and co. were filling the net at unsustainably high rates given the volume of shots and chances they generated. With Michael Grabner, and now Maroon, in the fold, Taylor Hall and the big guns will have some much needed help.
Maroon has tallied 41 goals and 72 points since the beginning of the 2016-17 season. Some have suggested he is a byproduct of Connor McDavid but I don’t believe that to be the case.
In 2014-15 – his last full year as a member of the Anaheim Ducks – he produced at a 39-point clip while averaging just over 14 minutes per game. The season prior he produced at a 38-point clip averaging a little more than 12 minutes per game. He didn’t come out of nowhere. He’s been a pretty productive guy for a while and will give the Devils some more needed scoring depth.
2) Maroon will also provide some jam the Devils are mostly lacking. They have a few guys who aren’t afraid to mix it up a little bit but they don’t have many. Maroon is heavy, physical player who can help wear down opposing defenders over the course of a playoff series. He’s a good guy to have around.
3) This another sign that the Devils want to a) make the playoffs and; b) at least put up a good fight when they get there. I very much doubt they can beat Pittsburgh, but if they get a shallow Washington team in the opening round, who knows what can happen?
Even just making it and giving Hall a chance to go beast mode is an opportunity I think he’d be thrilled to have. It’d be a good experience for the kids, too.
4) Now to what the Devils gave up for Maroon…a 2019 3rd round pick and prospect Joey Dudek. In a vacuum, that is little to part with even if Maroon walks in a few months. A 3rd has a ~20% chance of being a regular NHLer and Dudek is almost a write off at this point. He was a 6th round pick and has tallied just 42 points in 107 career NCAA games. It seems unlikely he’ll make the NHL and his impact will almost certainly be minimal if and when he gets there. It’s a small price to pay.
In saying that, it is a little odd the Devils have now parted with a pair of draft picks and prospects for rentals given they’re just coming out of a rebuild. I’m not saying they overpaid for Grabner and Maroon – they didn’t at all. It’s just the Devils are probably still the 7th or 8th best team in the conference and if they slip a hair down the stretch they’re likely getting a date with the powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning, which would almost certainly mean a very short-lived playoff experience.
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