The New Jersey Devils had a quiet final day of trades and did not make any real game-changing moves in this odd shortened season. Getting a 1st-round pick for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac, though a week ago, was a little light of a return considering the prospects they added will not be seeing any time with the big club and hopes were a little higher to get a good return. It also may have been a case of moving too early as Nick Foligno got a similar package paired with former Devil Stephan Noesen. Whether this was just Toronto overpaying or Lou Lamoriello being a great GM, Tom Fitzgerald should have held out a little longer for something more.
On Sunday, the Devils acquired Jonas Siegenthaler from the rival Capitals for a 3rd-round pick. This is an interesting move. He is a big bodied defender whose age really fits well on this squad. With almost 100 games played, he only has 2 goals and 13 points in his career. He might add some physicality on the back end. His puck movement is not great however and had always looked like a bottom-pairing guy at best. For this trade to work out, the Devils will need him to be solid for a few years and at least hold the spot well till a number of prospects can compete. It is a little risky as a rebuilding team needs picks, but eventually it is time to just start winning.
At the end of Monday’s trade deadline, Dmitry Kulikov was moved to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional 4th-round pick that will be upgraded to a 3rd if they win a playoff round. Fans were torn on Kulikov this year, but he was a positive possession player who added a huge physical prescience that the Devils needed badly for years. The hardest part about this trade is that they need to replace his spot instantly and it is highly questionable if Seigenthaler or Will Butcher will be in that spot and if they can play as good.
In other questionable moves, the Devils waived Nikita Gusev and Sami Vatanen. Gusev did not fit anymore and was clearly going somewhere, likely the KHL next season, but after his contract was mutually terminated he was picked up by the Panthers. Getting him for nothing is a steal for the Panthers. As for Vatanen, he was not the player of last year but after his horrendous start the defender did string together some good games late and was settling into a good rhythm. When waived, it was a sure thing he would get picked up and why they would not either trade him for anything or just use him as one of their top 6 defenders, which he was, is baffling.
At best they traded Kulikov for Siegenthaler and at worst on the defensive side swapped those and dropped a round in the draft while tossing away Vatanen which is mediocre at best. As for Palmieri and Zajac, the loss still hurts and they really need to make the 1st rounder stick fast or they will just continue losing without some huge steps from youth. It has been a disappointing season and a disappointing day to be a Devils’ fan.