Grading New Jersey Devils’ 2022 Offseason Additions Prior to Playoffs
Devils trade for Vitek Vanecek
Mackenzie Blackwood has played 40 or more NHL games just once in his career and played fewer than 30 both this season and last season. Coupled with increasingly worse performances, Tom Fitzgerald simply had no trust left to place for #29. After starting seven different goalies in the 2021-22 season, it was time for a new face between the sticks.
Vanecek was pretty average in Washington, and the same could be said about Vanecek’s first year in New Jersey too. The key, though, is that Vanecek has been remarkably consistent, setting career-highs in wins, Goals Against Average, and save percentage. Vanecek also became the first Devils netminder to reach 30 wins in over a decade (Martin Brodeur, 2011-2012).
Reasons to love Vitek Vanecek:
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 29, 2023
✅ Excellent goalie
✅ Hilarious post game interviews pic.twitter.com/8VfZxrHXHM
Is Vanecek an All Star? Not really. But, the Devils only gave up a third-round pick to acquire a starting-caliber goalie who signed on a cheap deal and also managed to come away with Seamus Casey with their swapped second-rounder. He might be better than either of the Capitals picks.
All told this is easily a Devils win so far.