The New Jersey Devils have the player assets and the cap maneuverability to get a deal done for highly covered restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk. And Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald should go all in at all costs.
The time is now. The near decade rebuild needs to see results sooner rather than later. For years, Devils fans have been waiting for the future to come into fruition. Now, the once called “Mickey Mouse organization” are in position to bring back a young stud power forward and they need to weaponize their remaining cap space and flexibility. Moreover, this is the moment that can alter a franchise’s direction and it would take a blockbuster trade to make it happen.
What about St. Louis?
Supposedly, there is a Matthew Tkachuk list of teams that came to light yesterday. One member of the hockey media refuted it on Twitter. Regardless, it is safe to say that Tkachuk will be traded.
I am still baffled about St. Louis Blues being in picture. I get it that it is his hometown team and where he grew up when his dad Keith Tkachuk played. It would take a miracle for Blues GM Doug Armstrong to move money and contracts around. Simply put, the economics don’t work for the Blues because of their cap situation and the amount of NTC contracts on their roster.
Fitzgerald lost out on the Johnny Hockey sweepstakes and it appears he has the green light to spend to the cap ceiling. If he can pull off some Fitz Magic and get a deal done with Calgary, it would change the whole mindset of the Devils fandom and would be a defining moment of Fitzgerald’s legacy as GM of the New Jersey Devils.
Ante up! Go all in!
Podcast: Devils Path To Tkachuk
Last night's podcast, my co-host Nick Villano and I spoke at length on what will it take to get Matthew Tkachuk. We also spoke to Evolving Hockey's Josh Youngren to get his take.
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Sam Woo is co-host and executive producer of the Let's Go Devils Podcast which can be heard live every Sunday at 9pm ET and Wednesday at 8:30pm ET.
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