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Reviewing the New Jersey Devils' deadline trades

February 25, 2020, 10:33 AM ET [86 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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Interim GM Tom Fitzgerald was expected to be active in advance of Monday’s trade deadline. And he was.

Fitzgerald made three moves, parting with pending unrestricted free agents Wayne Simmonds, Sami Vatanen, and Louis Domingue in exchange for futures.

There’s a lot to get so let’s dive right into the trades Fitzgerald completed, and the ones he didn’t.

On Wayne Simmonds to Buffalo

I’ve already spent some time writing about this one so I’ll be quick. It’s a classic example of taking what you can get for a player that won’t be part of the future.

Simmonds is a great guy. He’s easy to root for, even if he’s not making a lot happen on the ice at this point in his career. But he wasn’t going to be sticking around. The Devils are building around a young core, and they want to play fast. He doesn’t fit the timeline of the team, nor does he fit the style. That – as well as a natural decline – is probably why he has eight goals this season despite getting steady ice at even-strength and power play opportunities.

A 5th round pick isn’t likely to turn into an NHL player. It could, though. I’ll take a chance at a player who can help down the road over somebody who will walk away in 20 games.

I’ve seen a lot of ‘but we need him to protect the kids.’ I disagree. I mean, Simmonds fought twice in 61 games. Damon Severson has done that. Miles Wood and John Hayden are still on the roster. They have some guys who can play physical if necessary. You don’t keep Simmonds around because he might fight somebody once the rest of the way after Jack Hughes takes a hit.

On Louis Domingue to Vancouver

Domingue is not very good. Zane McIntyre is also not very good. But the Canucks are getting the guy with more NHL experience (they want it because Jacob Markstrom is banged up) and the cost of business is money. Literally. Domingue makes over $1 million whether he’s in the NHL or the AHL. McIntyre’s AHL salary is $400K.

If the Devils are going to have Cory Schneider serve as the backup in the NHL – that seems like the plan – they might as well take the cheaper AHL goalie if all else is equal. And it is.

On Sami Vatanen to Carolina

This trade sure struck a nerve with a lot of fans. I have absolutely no problem with the move, though. Let me explain.

Vatanen was not going to be a member of this team in October. He just wasn’t. It’ll likely take five or six years and as much as $6 million per season (Tyler Myers money!) to get his signature. He’s not worth that. His defensive impact isn’t great and he can’t produce points at even-strength. There is a pretty long list of underwhelming characters putting up numbers at more efficient rates since Vatanen became a member of the Devils. He is serviceable, yes, and he can quarterback a power play if you need him to. But, again, he is nothing special and not a long-term fit.

I think landing a 3rd round pick (assuming he plays 12 games down the stretch or in 70% of the playoff games – if he doesn’t, why would the Devils get a good pick?) and Janne Kuokkanen is a good bit of business given the circumstances.

Kuokkanen may not be the next Connor McDavid but he’s a good prospect. He is smart, has solid puck skills, and is a plus-playmaker (he won’t shoot, though). His numbers are solid too.

He leads Charlotte in scoring as a 21-year-old. As of a couple weeks ago (Pick224 hasn’t updated their stats fully), Drake Batherson was the only player in Kuokkanen’s age group with more total points while only two players had more primary points.

His individual outputs are clearly strong, as is his on-ice impact. The Checkers scored 10.37% more of the goals with him on the ice than without. That’s encouraging.

The return may not be sexy, per se, but I think it is perfectly justifiable.

Let’s be real here. The Hurricanes have 21 games left. If they get into the playoffs, they seem destined to play Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington, or Pittsburgh. They would rightfully be sizable underdogs in each series.

Even if Vatanen were to suit up for the Hurricanes tonight (he is not, obviously), there is a very good chance he’d play no more than 28 games with them. Realistically, we’re probably looking at closer to 20.

If Kuokkanen becomes an NHL player – even in a depth role – and they also get a 3rd round pick (or even a 4th), I have a hard time looking at this as a bad deal.

On Kyle Palmieri to nowhere

The only way it made sense to seriously consider a move is if a Blake Coleman-type package was tabled (a 1st and a high-end prospect). Fitzgerald had to receive an offer he simply couldn’t refuse. That didn't happen, thus Palmieri remains a member of the Devils.

Sure, you always want to get as much as possible for your guys. But let’s say the Devils suck again next season and are in this same boat. They could still get a ton for a player of Palmieri’s caliber as a rental.

He’s consistently a lot more productive than J.G. Pageau – his defensive impact is also underrated – and Pageau fetched a 1st, 2nd, and conditional 3rd. I have little doubt Palmieri could fetch a comparably strong package if it comes to that.

Keeping Palmieri also gives the Devils a better chance to be competitive next season, which *is* the team’s goal. Again, if that’s not the case a deal can be revisited down the road.

Palmieri is one of the team leaders who is actually a difference maker (unlike aging players like Simmonds and Greene). There is no need to force him out the door.

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