Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Case For And Against Trading Each Defenseman

By Nick Villano

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) and New Jersey Devils Defenceman P.K. Subban (76) fight during the second period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils on January 27, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) and New Jersey Devils Defenceman P.K. Subban (76) fight during the second period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils on January 27, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire 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) /

The Pros Of Trading Andy Greene

Andy Greene is another Devils player who’s on the final year of his contract. It seems universally known that the Devils will likely move on from the 37 year old. He still has value, as he’s playing over 20 minutes per night. That’s first-line time that most teams severely covet. The Devils could give Andy Greene the playoff run he deserves.

Speaking of deserves, maybe Greene does want that one last run to the Stanley Cup. He made the Finals with the Devils back in 2012, but hasn’t sniffed contention since. He was actually really good in that playoff year, playing 22 minutes a night over 24 contests. A team may look at that, and despite it being eight years ago (wow, really?) it could give them ideas of what he could do now.

Honestly, the Devils are going to lose Greene either way. This is similar to what the Devils dealt with last year with Ben Lovejoy. When they traded him, they got a 3rd-round pick AND a roster player. Greene could get a similar deal for the Devils, getting back some of the pick lost in the Subban and Nikita Gusev trades.

The Cons Of Trading Andy Greene

Andy Greene is the team captain, and trading your captain sometimes puts shockwaves throughout the locker room. We know that Fitzgerald spoke with Greene and Travis Zajac this week to see what they thought about the future direction of the team. If he said he doesn’t want to leave, and they push him to waive his no-trade clause anyway, it may not look great.

Also, there’s the aspect of having him play a few games in another uniform, which would be his only other jersey he ever puts on in the NHL. That changes a legacy. Look at how we see the Martin Brodeur stint in St. Louis. Obviously, Greene is not the greatest goaltender of all time, but the Devils and its fans take pride in the fact there are some all-time greats that spent their entire careers with the Devils. Greene went from undrafted defenseman to 14-year Devils great. Sending him to, say, Calgary for a few weeks seems futile.

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