HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Thoughts on the Devils/Islanders trade?

Well Fitz sure does have a lot of cap space to play with. Even signing Hughes in a year will not dent that space. It will be interesting how he deploys it. Especially if the Kracken jump on Subban.

If the homer blogger thinks it’s a good deal for both teams, you know the other team won the trade.

looks like Devils purposely trying to help the Islanders out

I think Fitzy has a deal in place with Palms already to resign with the Devils in the off season. Retaining salary for the rest of the season is a no brainer with Palms going to be an UFA, Zajacs Has one more year left after this one that Devils have dumped on Uncle Lou. The Devils get more tools for their toolbox. I like this because it shows how much Fitzy is going ALL In on the youth. The Devils already are the top team in the league with Players that Contribute below the age of 23.....Speed kills and they will be real deadly in 2 years when they all mature at the same time, add the fact that Blackwood is turning into a True 1A Goalie.

looks like Devils purposely trying to help the Islanders out
- jimbro83

Lou overpaid a bit for Greene last year and if he got a better deal this time because he has a good working relationship with Tom Fitzgerald, that's a reasonable conclusion.

Teams often have teams they work better with. You know the joke about the NY Rangers South team winning the cup with all the trades between you guys and Tampa. Similar situation for a while with you guys and the Bluejackets.

Lou has been trying to land Zajac since he left NJ and tired last year. Zajac just isn't worth much to most GMs. But there is a long connections there and Lou believes in the 'right' people as much as the skill set.

As PK help and as a faceoff specialist Travis is a good inexpensive add. Palmeri is what the Islanders needed and they gave us a first for that. So they did well with us retaining half salary but it's not like they didn't pay us.

On the other hand Fitzy said he hopes the first turns out the be the 32nd pick so he (like may Devils fans) hope these guys go on a Cup Run. I'd imagine there was some rooting for the Lightning in Rangerstown last season.

Not a horrible deal but I think the return for the Devils was a bit light considering the salary retention.

The ONLY reason I'd rather Zajac not be traded (especially for.. nothing), would be for the room and for Nico. Now, the veterans are all on D, which might be fine, but Travis (from our limited outside perspective) helped round out that group leadership-wise. Now Nico is more on an island.. a 22yr old 1st round pick, captain of an NHL team of kids up front, Subban, Severson, Kulikov, Vatanen, Murray, Butcher, Smith on D. And you know likely 2 of those D will be moved. So.. idk, could be a tough spot for Hischier. I know there's more to the on-ice product than the individual talent of players.
I bet Lou said he wouldn't do the deal unless Zajac was included. If you're Fitz, do you risk not getting a 1st from Palmieri from another team by not taking the deal? Maybe he knew teams wouldn't give up a 1st. idk. I didn't expect Zajac to be traded with his NMC, and would've rather him stay.. but it's not the end of the world.

Look at our lineup of forwards now though. Is Hischier really the man to lead this team? From an outsider's perspective, I feel it all moved too fast with Nico. I don't think he should've been captain this year. I think roll with 3 A's and give it to him next season. Is it too much responsibility and is he up to the task for this role with this kind of team? And then if we bring in some established vets next year.. does that make leadership funky and create a weird dynamic? This team just traded away 2 of it's few leaders.

It's a bunch of kids/AHL squad with minimal established NHLers. Losing just these 2 players takes away 20 years of NHL experience... which is also just about what's left lol.

Looking forward to the new lines. Wonder if they put Sharangovich or Zacha in the middle.

Saad and Hopkins could be nice adds up front.
Saad will be 29 and has some Cup experience. Nuge is almost 28.
Maybe Hoffman (32 next season), Granlund (30) or Schwartz (30 next season), would be my next tier of players? Maybe a Goodrow or Iafallo?

I'd be totally okay with bringing Zajac and Palmieri back, while adding one of these players, and I think we have the space to do it. I don't think our forwards should be on an island all learning the NHL game together. I think they should have some guys to help insulate them a bit, especially Hughes.

Hoffman-Hischier-Bratt
Saad-Hughes-Hopkins
Sharangovich-Zacha-Kuokkanen
Johnsson/Wood/Bastian-McLeod-Thompson

idk. something like that.

This lineup is already made up of kids so I'm not sure adding more rookies would benefit those here and the rookies themselves. Maybe the A is the best spot for the "big 3 (Holtz, Mercer, Foote) next season, especially Holtz coming from overseas.

Gotta wonder who Seattle will take from us.. Wood, Johnsson, Subban..

Lou overpaid a bit for Greene last year and if he got a better deal this time because he has a good working relationship with Tom Fitzgerald, that's a reasonable conclusion.

Teams often have teams they work better with. You know the joke about the NY Rangers South team winning the cup with all the trades between you guys and Tampa. Similar situation for a while with you guys and the Bluejackets.

Lou has been trying to land Zajac since he left NJ and tired last year. Zajac just isn't worth much to most GMs. But there is a long connections there and Lou believes in the 'right' people as much as the skill set.

As PK help and as a faceoff specialist Travis is a good inexpensive add. Palmeri is what the Islanders needed and they gave us a first for that. So they did well with us retaining half salary but it's not like they didn't pay us.

On the other hand Fitzy said he hopes the first turns out the be the 32nd pick so he (like may Devils fans) hope these guys go on a Cup Run. I'd imagine there was some rooting for the Lightning in Rangerstown last season.
- Queenie_5_hole

I for one don’t think you guys got fleeced I think it’s a rare good trade for both teams with this current market the way it is. With that said we didn’t pay a first for Palmieri and a 4th and two garbage prospects for Zajac. We paid a first, a 4th, and two career AHL’ers for both of them. Not sure why people keep saying that? If we didn’t get Zajac and salary retained the devils weren’t getting a first. That I guarantee.

Now Zacha can become the replacement for Zajac as our shutdown center with an occasional offensive contribution and everyone can get off his arse.

Actually i think it took a while for Nj fans to recognize Zajac’s value as well. Fitting.

I for one don’t think you guys got fleeced I think it’s a rare good trade for both teams with this current market the way it is. With that said we didn’t pay a first for Palmieri and a 4th and two garbage prospects for Zajac. We paid a first, a 4th, and two career AHL’ers for both of them. Not sure why people keep saying that? If we didn’t get Zajac and salary retained the devils weren’t getting a first. That I guarantee.
- Cptmjl

You could certainly be right on that. I think we (Devils fans) have to assume our GM knows this is a good deal based on the market. Lou often said you have to give to get; so this was where he was at. They’re reasonable GMs.

Travis still does some things well. Strong on face offs, defensively responsible and good on the PK. He’s a help. At times this year he looked better then he had in the past couple seasons. Like he trained hard with the long offseason. Covid seemed to slow him for a bit. I’m betting he gets juiced playing in games with meaning. He’s a solid depth add.

You could certainly be right on that. I think we (Devils fans) have to assume our GM knows this is a good deal based on the market. Lou often said you have to give to get; so this was where he was at. They’re reasonable GMs.

Travis still does some things well. Strong on face offs, defensively responsible and good on the PK. He’s a help. At times this year he looked better then he had in the past couple seasons. Like he trained hard with the long offseason. Covid seemed to slow him for a bit. I’m betting he gets juiced playing in games with meaning. He’s a solid depth add.
- Queenie_5_hole

That’s how Zajac will be deployed as a third line depth winger. We need that for the playoffs. Palmieri may even find a home on the third line with Pageau also. Wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Devils need some toughness in this lineup. Not Mcloud, not wood....real toughness. These kids will be pushed all over the place with no, I mean zero, threat of a response

Devils need some toughness in this lineup. Not Mcloud, not wood....real toughness. These kids will be pushed all over the place with no, I mean zero, threat of a response
- bodychec0139

Who do you suggest? Tkachuk from Ottawa?
Matt Martin from the Islanders? Not too many tough guys left in the league. I agree with you, but who do aquire?

Why not give up the Isles 1st plus a prospect and see if we can pry Ellis out of Nashville? He’s got a friendly contract for the next 6 years. He would be relevant as we improve over the next 2-3 seasons and could accelerate our rebuild more than the Isles pick? Thoughts? Likely we’re not drafting this kind of talent

Why not give up the Isles 1st plus a prospect and see if we can pry Ellis out of Nashville? He’s got a friendly contract for the next 6 years. He would be relevant as we improve over the next 2-3 seasons and could accelerate our rebuild more than the Isles pick? Thoughts? Likely we’re not drafting this kind of talent
- Crushers68

No idea if that’s a viable scenario but the concept of trading picks and prospects for established NHL players is certainly sound.