Pucks and Pitchforks
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Timo Meier And New Jersey Devils 5 Greatest In-Season Trades Of All Time

By Nick Villano

Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks is knocked down during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 20, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Sharks 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks is knocked down during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 20, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Sharks 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils right wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17): Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Kovalchuk Was The Right Move

Listen, looking back at this now, and this might now look as good. The Devils were looking to find a different way to compete. The defense was not filled with Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Brian Rafalski, and Ken Daneyko. So, Lou Lamoriello went for the biggest possible fish he’s ever targeted. Say what you want about Jason Arnott and Alexander Mogilny (two trades who were devastating to keep off this list), but Ilya Kovalchuk was by far the most talented player Lamoriello ever targeted in trade.

At the time of the trade, Kovalchuk was a two-time 50-goal scorer and a five-time 40-goal scorer. He was coming to a team that was looking to stay in the Eastern Conference race. It didn’t work out immediately, as the Devils lost in the first round in 2010. They didn’t make the playoffs in 2011. Then, 2012 came.

Ilya Kovalchuk went off in 2012. He had eight goals in the postseason, more than any other player in the postseason. He added 11 assists for a total of 19 points. He was actually dealing with a back injury at the time of the playoffs, but he gutted it out and dominated.

Obviously, the ending was terrible. He left for Russia during the 2012 lockout, returned for the lockout-shortened 2013 season, then left for good. Now, it leaves a bad taste in our mouths, but we have to give the devil his due. Kovalchuk was a great trade at the time, and the second-round pick they got in return turned into Jon Merrill, who was a decent defenseman in his own right.

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