The New Jersey Devils had a busy day, selecting six new prospects at the NHL Draft. They started the day with the 50th-overall pick, and selected Conrad Fondrk out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. However, they didn’t get as busy as many expected. With two second-round picks and multiple holes on the roster, the Devils were expected to enter the trade market.
Unlike last year when the Devils traded John Marino to the Utah now-Mammoth and Alexander Holtz to the Vegas Golden Knights on the draft’s second day, the team was quiet at the 2025 NHL Draft. No trades have been made by the Devils for actual NHL players. The only player to be traded was goalie John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings.
However, there was an NHL move that surprised many, and it is directly tied to the Devils. Last year, the Devils traded Kevin Bahl and a first-round pick for veteran goalie Jacob Markstrom. Since Cory Schneider’s hip injury, the Devils hadn’t had security in net. With Markstrom and fellow veteran Jake Allen, the Devils were finally in good shape between the pipes.
Bahl was a young defenseman, just 23 years old at the time of the trade. The Flames got two successful pieces for Markstrom, also adding Cole Reschny at the draft on Friday night.
It seems like a positive deal for both teams, with the Flames adding two young pieces (one being a prospect) and the Devils solving their most important issue. New Jersey made the playoffs last year thanks to the deal, so it’s a win for them.
It seemed like a win for the Flames, but then they made a corresponding move with Bahl on Saturday.
Kevin Bahl, signed 6x$5.4M by CGY, is a physical shut-down defenceman who defends the blueline aggressively. Was third on the team in ice time this season. #Flames pic.twitter.com/ZiZ7PSxp5w
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 28, 2025
Kevin Bahl signs a contract that solidifies the win for Tom Fitzgerald
Just to be direct, that is a crazy contract. We don’t mind the term. Bahl should be fine for a long time, but one should pay him like he’s a fine player. Giving him north of $5 million for that length of time is asking for a buyout.
The Flames have plenty of undesirable contracts, but they still have enough space to sign Bahl. He joins fellow former Devils youngster Yegor Sharangovich, who was given a contract worth more than $5 million after one relatively strong season in Calgary.
Bahl’s play demanding that contract furthers the trade win for the Devils in the Markstrom trade. Paying your young players can often work out well, but Bahl had multiple flaws in his game that made him a frustrating player to watch. He has this giant body, but he doesn’t use it. He did break 100 hits this year, but that is almost the Flames' style at work. MacKenzie Weager had 223. Blake Coleman had 176.
The Devils would have never been able to afford that contract, and they probably had no desire to sign it. So, getting this out of the locker room while fixing their biggest need continues to be a slam dunk.