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Ranking Ray Shero’s New Jersey Devils Trade Deadline Deals As A Seller

By Nick Villano

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 25: General manager Ray Shero of the New Jersey Devils attends the 2016 NHL Draft at First Niagara Center on June 25, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 25: General manager Ray Shero of the New Jersey Devils attends the 2016 NHL Draft at First Niagara Center on June 25, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. February 4, 2017: Nashville Predators trade a 4th-round pick for
Vernon Fiddler

Less than one month before the Devils sent P.A. Parenteau to the Preds, they sent them Vernon Fiddler. In this trade, it looked like they sent him a lesser asset but got a better pick. Fiddler was signed to a one-year deal, had three points in 39 games from the center position, and like Parenteau, he never played another game in the NHL after that season.

This is where the trades start to take a turn on this list for Shero. A 4th-round pick for this asset is quite good. Maybe the Predators just wanted to get their asset back after Fiddler spent the first six seasons on his career in Nashville.

Either way, it was a very good deal for Shero. Although, it doesn’t get higher because a 4th-round pick has a middling chance to make it to the NHL in most cases. This pick at least helped turn into an NHL player. They sent it to the San Jose Sharks in the Mirco Mueller trade. They also got Marian Studenic in the trade who might be the best asset in the entire deal.

(Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. February 29, 2016: Montreal Canadiens trade Devante Smith-Pelly for Stefan Matteau

This one is very underrated now, but at the time it was a massive win. Stefan Matteau looked like a complete and utter bust for the New Jersey Devils, yet they were able to get a very good roster player in exchange for him. Devante Smith-Pelly scored eight goals in 18 games to end the season with the Devils. If he kept that point total going for an 82 game season, he would have ended with 59 points.

The Devils re-signed Smith-Pelly in the offseason to a two-year deal, but he wasn’t near as good in his second season in New Jersey. He couldn’t even match his 13 points over a full season, which he again did in 18 games the year before.

Obviously, the Devils ended their terms with Smith-Pelly a year early, he went on to play for the Washington Capitals, and was the reason they were able to win their first Stanley Cup in team history. Matteau hasn’t played an NHL game this season this year. Still a big win for Shero in the long run.

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