New Jersey Devils: 5 Most Important Pieces During Trade Deadline

2. Andreas Johnsson

Sticking in Utica, Andreas Johnsson was always the odd man out when Tomas Tatar turned a corner in training camp. Johnsson has spent most of this season in the minor leagues after he passed through waivers. The Devils are leaving a $2.27 million cap hit in the AHL. It would be more if he was in the NHL, so the move makes sense for now.

To make a trade for a player of Meier’s caliber, the Devils have to make the salaries work. Johnsson would really help that. The Devils could stay under the cap by just adding Johnsson and Holtz to a Meier trade. The cap is an intricate process, and moves must be made to accommodate contending teams, but just taking on Johnsson makes a trade this important work?

Johnsson is clearly being used as trade bait. He makes this process a lot easier for Tom Fitzgerald.

It’s honestly upsetting that the Johnsson deal worked out the way it did. It’s honestly something that didn’t work out for anyone. Joey Anderson only played 20 games with the Maple Leafs, scoring three total points. However, this is the best route forward.