If the Blues want multiple kicks at the prospect can and if the Devils aren’t looking to lose anymore 2022 NHL Draft picks, then this is a deal that could make a lot of sense for both sides. Tyce Thompson is the best piece in the deal despite Nikita Okhotyuk technically being the highest draft pick of the bunch. The value Thompson brings is that of a winger who was sent directly to the NHL after he signed following his season with Providence College. He was really good in the NCAA, averaging more than a point per game over the past two seasons. He struggled in seven NHL games, but last year was a weird season and he jumped right from college to the pros. He’ll be much better this season.
Nikita Okhotyuk has a weird future here in New Jersey. The Devils traded for Ryan Graves and Jonas Siegenthaler in the past few months, which both play a shutdown type game similar to what Okhotyuk brings to the table. It seems like the Devils went all out to build the defense from outside of the organization. Okhotyuk is a luxury the Devils could lose, but it could add to the Blues prospect pool as someone who could make an impact in a few years.
Matthew Hellickson is just an extra put into this scenario. The Devils probably don’t have high hopes for the former Notre Dame defenseman, but he had some flashes in college. Maybe the Blues feel like Hellickson has the ability to do something in the NHL one day. It’s a long shot, but the Blues are already getting one really good prospect and a decent prospect. Hellickson is just an extra.