New Jersey Devils: Sami Vatanen Injury Could Destroy Trade Value
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils announced Sami Vatanen is going on injured reserve after blocking a shot. It’s a short term injury that could have long impacts.
The New Jersey Devils made an announcement that made a lot of fans happy. With the season basically lost in February once again, the fans only really have watching young players grow to look forward to. So, when we learned that Nick Merkley, one of the main pieces in the Taylor Hall trade, was getting his first shot in New Jersey, many of us celebrated.
However, there’s a problem in that announcement. Sami Vatanen had to go on injured reserve for Merkley to make the team. It really takes the air out of the excitement.
Vatanen is the Devils main trade piece with less than two weeks before the NHL Trade Deadline. He’s a right-handed defenseman that could possibly go for a 1st-round pick, but now he’s going on injured reserve.
IR is something that’s going to scare some teams away. Again, this is a very short-term injury, but it’s one that might last well into negotiations. For a season where everything went wrong at the absolute worst time, this feels the same way.
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Teams are have trouble giving up 1st-round picks this season. The Devils are likely going to demand one for Vatanen, but if he’s actually injured (again, they are saying it’s just a bruise, but who knows with this team), then some teams might be out completely.
The Devils need as many assets they can get this season, especially if it’s from players on expiring contracts. Getting a third 1st-round pick in a draft as deep as this one could set the Devils up for the next decade. Add in that much talent to a team with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and eventually Ty Smith and Jesper Boqvist, could really make this a team to be reckoned with in the future.
Hopefully, Vatanen will return sooner rather than later. If it’s a one-game move, since it is retroactive to February 1st. He can return at any time, so this could be to give Merkley a look before sending him back to the AHL. Vatanen has missed two weeks now, and that has to scare some of the teams looking to add off. With Vatanen’s injury history, having him miss more time to remind teams he’s been hurt in the past. To get a 1st-round pick here, Vatanen needs to prove he’s at least 90% healthy very soon.