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Thoughts on the Blake Coleman trade?

February 17, 2020, 12:29 PM ET [16 Comments]
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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on the Blake Coleman trade.

Todd Cordell

Tampa Bay paid a premium, I think, but it’s easy to understand why.

Blake Coleman is tied for 18th in the NHL in 5v5 goals. He has scored more than Patrick Kane, Elias Pettersson, Patrik Laine and Steven Stamkos, to name but a few, in that game state. He’s also an elite defensive winger and one of the best penalty killers in the league. He’ll surely partner with Anthony Cirelli, who also has a non-stop motor, and form an unrivalled power kill duo. Coleman is a true two-way threat and he’s cost controlled at $1.8 million through the 2020-21 season. He will provide immense value over the next couple of seasons while the Lightning push for a Stanley Cup.

On the flip side, Coleman will be 30 a month into his next contract. It doesn’t make sense for a retooling Devils team to pay a premium to keep a player that doesn’t fit into their timeline. It also doesn’t make sense for them to pass up a high-end futures package.

Nolan Foote brings a mix of goal scoring ability, and physicality, the Devils simply don’t have in the organization, and (if Vancouver makes the playoffs) they’ll now have three 1st round picks in June. That’s a ton of ammo to add impact prospects to the core, or flip for players that can help now and long-term.

I have already gone more in-depth on the deal from New Jersey’s perspective but, in short, I think this trade makes a ton of sense for both parties. I expect everyone will be happy with how it all plays out.

James Tanner

This was a great trade for both teams.

The Devils are building for the future, so the prospect and pick are helpful. Coleman is 28 and most likely in decline by the time they're any good, so the move for them was solid.

Tampa is the big winner here though. I saw some people saying that they overpaid, but that is a ridiculous take.

The Lightning are in win-now mode, and there's less than a 25% chance that either piece they gave up ever turns into a star player.

I don't know if Coleman is always going to be a star, but his performance this year has been elite. He only has 30 points, but he drives play and prevents goals. His salary is dirt cheap and he's signed for next year.

This is a massive homerun for Tampa who arguably get the best player available.

Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com

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