In a seemingly wasteful trade of Alexander Holtz, the main roster piece the Devils got back was winger Paul Cotter. While this may feel like a throw-in by the Golden Knights, Cotter is the kind of player that should thrive in the Devils' speed system and should become a fan favorite.
Cotter was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 4th round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He bounced around several junior leagues, including the USHL, OHL, and NCAA before making his professional debut for the Chicago Wolves. He then moved up to the NHL fulltime in 2023, where he has been since.
Cotter's stats and underlyings don't exactly scream "underrated." He generally is a checking forward who somewhat sparingly scores the fantastic goal. But, I do think there are things in his game that could mould him into that perfect "every-line" player.
Firstly, he is very quick. A quick search on NHL Edge shows us that Cotter is in the 84th and 87th percentiles for Top Skating Speed and Speed Bursts Over 20 mph, respectively. He is a fast player who uses it to his advantage to win forecheck battles and beat opponent defenders. Beyond that, however, it is his hand and puck skills that make him truly unique. Over the years, he has scored a variety of intriguing and difficult goals, including one where he batted a puck out of the air like Aaron Judge.
His impressive hand skills, combined with and maintained at the speed he possesses, could make a "breakout" player. Now, I doubt there is 35+ point potential here, but there is enough to suggest he is not just going to be a depth player. I can imagine him on a line with Haula and Lazar, wreaking havoc and contributing to meaningful minutes.
Cotter just brings good vibes, and after a season where nothing went the Devils' way, he could be exactly what they need.