After trading defensemen Andy Greene for a 2021 second rounder and minor leaguer David Quenneville to help out Binghamton, this trade benefits the Devils in either the 2021 NHL Draft or using this pick in deals similar for Kyle Palmieri or Marcus Johansson in the summer. The other trade that really went well that I mentioned on Sunday February 16th was the Blake Coleman for Nolan Foote and Vancouver’s conditional first in 2020/2021 depending on if Vancouver clinches the 2020 playoffs or not.
Nolan Foote, as a winger, is a very skilled power forward with a lot of speed and plays a James van Riemsdyk styled game in the high danger zone. Another part of Foote’s game is that sneaky, yet heavy shot. Very few can get a read on his release and with his skating improving, he can most certainly be a solid line-mate for Jack Hughes.
The first of three trade deadline moves interim GM Tommy Fitzgerald made on Monday was retaining 50% of Wayne Simmonds contract, this according to the records at Cap Friendly. The fifth-round pick the Devils get back is a conditional in 2021. As per CapFriendly, the conditions are as follows: If the Buffalo Sabres makes the playoffs and Simmonds plays 10 games, the pick will upgrade to a fourth.
The Devils clear the last $2.5 million dollars by July 1st along with other expiring contracts. That money will be reallocated towards other young, talented and very skilled New Jersey Devils roster players, prospects and miscellaneous moves. Players like Joey Anderson and Nathan Bastian can easily replace Wayne Simmonds and John Hayden type players who likely don’t fit the Devils near and long-term perspective.
Another move that occurred was Vancouver getting a proven backup in Louis Domingue who can excel behind an amazing defence with a guy like Quinn Hughes who is the brother of Devils centreman Jack Hughes. Domingue’s stick handling, passing and his game is pretty solid under pressure, but has certainly gotten a lot better in his last few games as a New Jersey Devil. According to eliteprospects.com, Zane McIntyre has seven AHL career shutouts and his 19-20 season GAA is a 3.16 and a 0.894 SV%. When Zane plays more than 24 games, he gets more opportunities to fine tune his game behind a very reliable and competitive defence in front of him.
Last, but not least, Sami Vatanen was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes with a retained salary of 50 percent, per CapFriendly. Vatanen has been a key cog in the Devils lineup since the Adam Henrique deal done by our old friend Ray Shero. Fitzgerald got back a 2020 fourth-round pick which reads, “Devils receive the 2020 fourth-round pick if Vatanen plays in five regular season games. The pick upgrades to a 2020 third-round pick if Vatanen plays in 12 regular season games or 70 percent of the 2020 playoff games.” – per Cap Friendly.
Janne Kuokkanen, a 21-year-old centre and left winger, was described on Twitter by Lassi Alanen for @eliteprospects, “Janne Kuokkanen moving to New Jersey. Fluid skater, good hands, very smart. Doesn’t have high-end offensive upside, but is very versatile and does everything well. Just 21-years-old, but already has three full seasons of AHL experience.”
What Jim Biringer, my co-host, and I described him as is a faster and younger version of Blake Coleman and will likely be playing with a guy like Miles Wood who has speed, size, grit and both able to score. Fredrik Claesson, a 6’1, 196 pound left-handed defensemen who had a cup of coffee with the New York Rangers, scored six points and four assists last season before signing on with the Carolina Checkers. Claesson too was sent to the Devils in the trade for Vatanen alongside Janne Kuokkanen.
Fredrik isn’t afraid to be a physical presence back checking and can most certainly chuck some knuckles. One last thing to mention about Claesson is when he steps up to take a slap shot, the puck does fly into hyper drive on net.
With the trade deadline now concluded and the salary cap likely to go up, the salary cap can inflate the New Jersey Devils $9 million plus dollars to 11 or $12 million. Of course, this is only the case if commissioner Bettman looks to grow the salary cap by that margin. Tommy Fitzgerald would be very wise to utilize that as leverage in an area to bolster goaltending and defence while internal competition is a healthier choice.