Post by NJDevilsGM on Mar 27, 2023 14:30:19 GMT -5
Newark, NJ - With the playoffs slowly slipping out of grasp for the Devils this year, the team elected to engage in an overhaul of sorts in the days leading up to the trade deadline, revamping their forward ranks while improving the blueline as they gear up for the 2023-2024 season.
Rather than sell off players for draft picks as most non-contending teams do at this time of year, the Devils elected to pour draft capital into next years squad, picking up four forwards and a blueliner, most of whom are expected to have key roles with the Devils next season.
"We left this team completely intact for the entire season until this point," said GM Trent Allen. "They started very well and we wanted to give them the chance to prove themselves. They played well for the most part but we slowly lost ground during the season and over the past three weeks the tires came completely off, so we needed to make some changes."
The Devils kicked things off 12 days before the trade deadline, dealing young defenseman Logan Stanley and a 3rd round pick to the St. Louis Blues for forward Radek Faksa and a 5th.
"Radek should help give our lower lines a solid boost and provide important depth," said Allen. "We expect he'll be a key cog on our penalty kill unit."
Four days later, the Devils pulled off a much more substantial deal, sending out defenseman Justin Holl, prospect Jeremie Poirier, a 2nd and a 3rd in exchange for hulking blueliner Nikita Zadorov.
"This deal was one a longtime in the making and dates back to before Nikita was even with Seattle as were trying to determine who they may end up having on their team and his name came up at that point," explained Allen. "We had brief discussions throughout the year, more checking in than anything, and then talks really heated up again about three weeks ago. We hate to give up a talented youngster like Poirier, but we've added a top three defenseman who brings some needed size and strength to the role and we're excited about the potential to see him improve our backend."
Two days later, the Devils did their biggest swap of the season, sending out forwards Ryan Dzingel, Evgenii Dadonov, and Joe Veleno, defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic, prospect Jacob Olofsson and Montreal's first round draft pick this year and a 2nd round pick, also in this years' draft, to Montreal in exchange for forward Joel Eriksson Ek and Montreal's first round pick in next years' draft.
The 25-year-old forward will augment the Devils' top six forwards, which the Devils have sought to improve for some time. Eriksson Ek has produced at a high level for the Canadiens for several years and is just25-years-old, so he's expected to be a cornerstone for years to come.
"We're very excited to add a player of his ilk," said Allen. "This gives us loads of depth at center and allows us to have a higher octane attack which we've needed for a while now."
Allen expressed disappointment in moving Veleno to facilitate a trade, noting you have to give to get sometimes.
"We drafted Joe and he's been in our system for five years now. He had just made the NsHL and was having a very fine rookie campaign, so it's sad to have to watch him wear another jersey now, but for him it'll be an excellent opportunity to play bigger minutes so it's bittersweet in a way seeing him move on," Allen expressed.
Turning to the trade deadline day itself, there were a few blockbusters that came through but for New Jersey they played it more lowkey, shipping out a second round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Barclay Goodrow and a seventh round selection and then capping the day off by sending out a third round pick to Vancouver to pick up forward Alex Iafallo.
"Barclay should really help out our third line and penalty kill," Allen assessed, noting Goodenow is strong in the faceoff circle and defensively. "He's earned a cup ring and brings loads of leadership to the team."
"Alex is a guy we've had our eyes on and have tried to acquire for a few yars now, so when the chance to came up at the deadline to add him we were excited to do so," Allen continued, speaking of Iafallo. "He'll slot in on our fourth line and go from there but we feel he has a lot of potential and upside."
Allen added there will likely be more moves in the off-season, with the goal to add a top four defenseman to flush out the teams top end depth more on the backend. For now though, the Devils will turn their attention to the draft as the playoff hopes for this year are fading rapidly.
Rather than sell off players for draft picks as most non-contending teams do at this time of year, the Devils elected to pour draft capital into next years squad, picking up four forwards and a blueliner, most of whom are expected to have key roles with the Devils next season.
"We left this team completely intact for the entire season until this point," said GM Trent Allen. "They started very well and we wanted to give them the chance to prove themselves. They played well for the most part but we slowly lost ground during the season and over the past three weeks the tires came completely off, so we needed to make some changes."
The Devils kicked things off 12 days before the trade deadline, dealing young defenseman Logan Stanley and a 3rd round pick to the St. Louis Blues for forward Radek Faksa and a 5th.
"Radek should help give our lower lines a solid boost and provide important depth," said Allen. "We expect he'll be a key cog on our penalty kill unit."
Four days later, the Devils pulled off a much more substantial deal, sending out defenseman Justin Holl, prospect Jeremie Poirier, a 2nd and a 3rd in exchange for hulking blueliner Nikita Zadorov.
"This deal was one a longtime in the making and dates back to before Nikita was even with Seattle as were trying to determine who they may end up having on their team and his name came up at that point," explained Allen. "We had brief discussions throughout the year, more checking in than anything, and then talks really heated up again about three weeks ago. We hate to give up a talented youngster like Poirier, but we've added a top three defenseman who brings some needed size and strength to the role and we're excited about the potential to see him improve our backend."
Two days later, the Devils did their biggest swap of the season, sending out forwards Ryan Dzingel, Evgenii Dadonov, and Joe Veleno, defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic, prospect Jacob Olofsson and Montreal's first round draft pick this year and a 2nd round pick, also in this years' draft, to Montreal in exchange for forward Joel Eriksson Ek and Montreal's first round pick in next years' draft.
The 25-year-old forward will augment the Devils' top six forwards, which the Devils have sought to improve for some time. Eriksson Ek has produced at a high level for the Canadiens for several years and is just25-years-old, so he's expected to be a cornerstone for years to come.
"We're very excited to add a player of his ilk," said Allen. "This gives us loads of depth at center and allows us to have a higher octane attack which we've needed for a while now."
Allen expressed disappointment in moving Veleno to facilitate a trade, noting you have to give to get sometimes.
"We drafted Joe and he's been in our system for five years now. He had just made the NsHL and was having a very fine rookie campaign, so it's sad to have to watch him wear another jersey now, but for him it'll be an excellent opportunity to play bigger minutes so it's bittersweet in a way seeing him move on," Allen expressed.
Turning to the trade deadline day itself, there were a few blockbusters that came through but for New Jersey they played it more lowkey, shipping out a second round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Barclay Goodrow and a seventh round selection and then capping the day off by sending out a third round pick to Vancouver to pick up forward Alex Iafallo.
"Barclay should really help out our third line and penalty kill," Allen assessed, noting Goodenow is strong in the faceoff circle and defensively. "He's earned a cup ring and brings loads of leadership to the team."
"Alex is a guy we've had our eyes on and have tried to acquire for a few yars now, so when the chance to came up at the deadline to add him we were excited to do so," Allen continued, speaking of Iafallo. "He'll slot in on our fourth line and go from there but we feel he has a lot of potential and upside."
Allen added there will likely be more moves in the off-season, with the goal to add a top four defenseman to flush out the teams top end depth more on the backend. For now though, the Devils will turn their attention to the draft as the playoff hopes for this year are fading rapidly.
