4. Two key pieces may be impossible to move
In addition to Palmieri, Vatanen, and Coleman, captain Andy Greene and veteran centerman Travis Zajac have also been at the center of trade rumors. Greene is on an expiring contract and Zajac has a year left on his deal. On top of their contracts, Greene and Zajac are both veteran players and may not fit into the Devils’ long-term plans, giving the Devils ample reason to move them at the deadline.
Nobody is acting like the veterans will provide good returns, but trades could provide Greene with a chance at a deep playoff run with a contender and some cap-alleviation in the case of Zajac. These seem like logical moves to make at the deadline regardless of their value, but can the Devils even do it?
A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece on some rumblings on Greene and Zajac. Not much has changed since, or at least that we know of, but Zajac has apparently already nixed a trade offer via his no-trade clause. At the time of that post, Greene only had preliminary discussions with Fitzgerald regarding his interest in waiving his own no-trade clause. Both players cited a desire to remain with the Devils beyond the deadline. If the two Devils veterans remain unwilling to waive their no-trade clauses, the organization will have no choice but to stand pat on moving them at the deadline.