New Jersey Devils: Three Trade Packages For Johnny Gaudreau
The New Jersey Devils could be in the market for Johnny Gaudreau and it might take trades like this.
For a long time now, the New Jersey Devils have been connected to Johnny Gaudreau. There have been “trade package” articles before, but those have to be updated because of the new developments that have happened since then. Before the bubble happened because of COVID-19, Johnny Hockey was having a down year. Even in a down year, he would have been the best player on the Devils, so any trade is still something to consider if you’re New Jersey.
There is also the possibility that he is something close to his best if he is traded over to the team that plays in his home state. At his best, Gaudreau is one of the best offensive players in the league. He had 99 points last season. The year prior, he had 24 goals and 60 assists for 84 points in 80 games. It was down this year as he had 18 goals and 40 assists for 58 points in 70 games. If he can get back on track going forward, and at 27 years old it is possible, he would be a phenomenal addition to this Devils team.
One thing that scares a lot of Devils fans is the fact that he only has two years left on his deal. It would be tough to see him become a free agent two years after trading good prospects or picks to get him. That is a concern but that also lowers the trade price since the last time we went over this.
If he came to the Devils, he would certainly be in the top-six playing with one of Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes. Hischier probably would be the best fit as Hughes is similar to Gaudreau in terms of being a pass-first guy. With a kid like Hischier, it would have a chance to be a really good two-way line for the Devils. These are the three packages that could be put together by the Devils to acquire Johnny Gaudreau:
Trade One
The New Jersey Devils would need to give a decent amount to Calgary for them to hand over Johnny Hockey, but it might not be as much as you think. The Flames have two things working against them in their efforts to trade Gaudreau. One is they got smoked by the Dallas Stars and Gaudreau wasn’t his normal self, then there’s the fact that he has only two years left on his current deal. That is why a trade like this might get it done.
Pavel Zacha would be a good third or fourth-line center in Calgary. He would be able to kill some penalties for them as he is one of the best pure penalty killers in the league. He would also be able to just take the pressure off of being a former sixth-overall pick if he went to a new team with new expectations. He would be going to a pretty good team and he might be able to play much better there than he has in New Jersey.
If the Devils gave them their first-round pick that originally belonged to Vancouver, Calgary would have the chance to select a really good player in a very deep draft. That is a pretty good return for a guy coming off a down year with two years left on his deal. Some of the trades that the Devils have made lately have seen them not give up that much and this would be one of those for a guy who is so gifted.
Trade Two
There could be a world where the Calgary Flames just take a 1st-round pick for Gaudreau. If they want to go for a certain local free agent that happens to be from the Calgary area, they are probably going to want to trade away some salary and not take any back. Sending off Gaudreau for a first-round pick would be a great way to do that. The pick is going to be the 18th-overall pick from Arizona, which means they would have two picks very close to each other in the 1st round.
This draft is very deep. In the teens of the 1st round, teams could be getting players who one day make them so much better. Some people believe that picks 10-30 would all be high 1st-round picks in most years. They could draft one of the highly touted defensemen or one of the goal-scoring wingers to develop through time.
For the Devils, they would be getting Gaudreau for a pick that is worth a lot. 1st-round picks are very important, but they would be smart to let one go for Gaudreau. They also wouldn’t be losing anyone from their NHL roster. It makes it even easier knowing there are two other 1st-round picks that they have in this very deep draft.
Trade Three
The Devils might be willing to give up two roster players who have had issues over the past two seasons. There is no doubt that Miles Wood and Damon Severson are good NHL players but the Devils don’t use either of them right. Miles Wood would be a great fourth liner on a good team. When you see a player like Thomas Nosek has success on a team like the Vegas Golden Knights, it is clear that Wood can make an impact on a team like that. If he went to Calgary, he would have that chance.
Damon Severson has had an up-and-down career up to this point. He is often the scapegoat of the New Jersey Devils fanbase since everyone always has to have someone to blame. That guy is Severson right now and he doesn’t deserve it. He is a good puck-moving defenseman that can score a good amount of points and those don’t grow on trees. The problem is, the Devils aren’t that good defensively as a team and Severson is part of the reason why.
If Wood and Severson went to Calgary, they would both be inserted into roles that fill their needs better. Severson wouldn’t ever have to lead all defensemen in ice time and be there specifically as a puck-moving defenseman. The Devils would be losing two roster pieces in exchange for one here but they need to make changes. They can’t keep returning all of the same players that consistently help this team come in last-place.
Hot. Andy Greene is in and Ilya Kovalchuk is out. light
Hischier and Hughes are still both young and learning so bringing a guy like Gaudreau would be able to help them. Although it does seem like Calgary is going to move on from Gaudreau, it is no guarantee that they will just send him home to New Jersey. The Devils would need to have to want him to make it happen. It would certainly be exciting to watch if he did come over in a trade like one of these.