New Jersey Devils Should Make Move For Prospect Kirill Kaprizov
Are the New Jersey Devils in position to trade a prospect for a prospect? Or are they only making “seller” type trades right now?
It is trade season and the New Jersey Devils are clearly sellers. That said, there is a trade they should make that isn’t a “sell” type of trade. This is a trade for two players that may just need a change of scenery. The trade proposal is one that involves the Minnesota Wild.
A player that might need a change of scenery is forward John Quenneville. He has been pretty good in the minors, but hasn’t yet been able to stick in the NHL. This could be the classic case of a prospect in an awkward position for a prospect in an awkward position.
The Minnesota Wild have a prospect that might not want to sign with them anymore. His name is Kirill Kaprizov. He was a Wild draft pick and is currently playing in the KHL for CSKA Moscow. He is one of the best prospects in the Wild’s system, but he has had some harsh words for the Wild before they hired their new GM Paul Fenton. He is signed in the KHL for a few more years and has no buyout opportunity although he has mentioned that he wants to play in the NHL.
You wonder if Minnesota will want to wait for his KHL contract to be up to get something out of him. John Quenneville could be the perfect guy to play in the Wild’s top nine and Kaprizov could be just what the Devils need to add once his contract is done and he is in his mid-20s.
More from Pucks and Pitchforks
- Should New Jersey Devils Try Load Management With Vitek Vanecek?
- New Jersey Devils Will Prove That Last Year Wasn’t A Fluke
- New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes’ Playmaking Will Outshine His Mistakes
- New Jersey Devils: Chase Stillman’s Performance Causes Concern
- Can Devils Fans Separate Zach Parise Heartbreak From Achievements?
By that time, if Taylor Hall is still with them and Nico Hischier has really evolved into an elite player then they would certainly welcome a guy like Kaprizov. The Devils would also need to send a pick with Quenneville for Kaprizov, or at least another player. He is highly touted and if it wasn’t for the old regime dropping the ball and letting him go to the KHL, he could be in the NHL right now.
In 2018, Kaprizov won a gold medal playing for the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” team. He scored the golden goal in overtime to win the gold medal. He is a very skilled player that would fit into the New Jersey Devils future plans just great.
There was a similar trade earlier this season between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes gave the Hawks Dylan Strome in exchange for Nick Schmaltz. Strome was a really high draft pick who was known for having an all-time great junior career with the Erie Otters. He never really worked out with the Coyotes and just needed a change of scenery. Now he is absolutely thriving in Chicago.
Next. Devils Players They Should NOT Trade. dark
Schmaltz seemed to be struggling in Chicago as well following a 20-goal season. He was the more proven player in the trade and he went to Arizona and started to play well before having a season-ending injury. This could be classified as a trade that can benefit both teams. The Devils and Wild are both capable of making a trade that benefits both teams in the long run if they so chose.
Kaprisov would also have the opportunity to live in the big city if he were traded to the Devils one day and would get the opportunity to play with some really good players. If the Wild were somehow willing to trade him for Quenneville, and Devils draft picks or other prospects that would definitely be something that Ray Shero should look at.