Devils swing three deals at deadline
Mar 24, 2024 13:33:21 GMT -5
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Post by NJDevilsGM on Mar 24, 2024 13:33:21 GMT -5
Newark, NJ - After another mid-season swoon, the writing was on the wall for the New Jersey Devils, according to General Manager Trent Allen.
"We really figured we had a playoff caliber squad here this year, especially after we added MacKenzie Weegar early in the season. For some reason, it just didn't click and here we are again, on the outside looking in," explained Allen.
Early into the season, things looked like they may be finally coming together for the Devils. Sitting with an 8-3-1 record after 12 games and riding a five game winning streak, the belief a playoff berth was within reach seemed to be completely accurate for Allen and the Devils. But looks can be deceiving.
The Devils went a mere 11-26-3 in the next 40 games after that, dropping from a top four spot early in the year to nearly the bottom of the league standings. The offense struggled, backup netminder Filip Gustavsson was unable to spell starter Ilya Sorokin successfully and the Devils once again had to reckon with a season lost and countless questions to answer.
While the team did turn it around in the final few weeks leading up to the deadline, going 8-2-2 in the final 12 games, it was to little and much, much to late. Changes were made.
"There's just something off with the mix of players somewhere," said Allen. "On paper, we had a very deep and strong defense, one of the leagues top starting netminders in Sorokin and were very deep down the middle with (Jack) Eichel, Nico (Hischier) and Joel (Eriksson Ek). We felt we could use another top six winger, but overall, the talent on this team should have been enough to have us in the hunt for a playoff spot without question."
"But this game isn't played on paper, and the results showed that. We lost to teams we should have beat. At times, we got our asses handed to us by teams we should have beat. The answers to that problem lies with me and with the guys in the locker room," Allen continued. "We thought about standing pat and giving this team another shot at it again next year, but ultimately we felt we needed to make some changes and try to balance everything out a bit more."
And changes were made. After dealing UFA-to-be Jimmy Vesey ahead of the deadline to Pittsburgh for a 4th round pick, Allen had stated the club was open to swapping a blueliner to add a top six winger, but was quite contend to let that issue resolve itself in the off-season and wouldn't be rushed into a trade just to make a deal. In the end, the deals were able to materialize just moments before the deadline bell last night, putting a lot of the roster issues on the shelf.
The Devils actually kicked off the action on deadline day, engaging in a surprise move with the New York Rangers to send former first round draft pick Peyton Krebs to the Rangers for a 4th round pick and defenseman Mike Matheson.
"It was a bittersweet ending for Krebs here, but we felt there just hadn't been enough progress made. When Mike was made available, we immediately reached out to Geordie and inquired about him. The deal came together extremely quickly, I'd say in about two minutes actually," explained Allen.
"We think Mike's got a lot more to his game than has perhaps materialized thus far. We think he'll be a key piece of our new backend going forward."
Matheson has one goal and 19 points in 55 games this year.
After that, the Devils were busy on the phone for much of the day but it appeared nothing was going to get completed, that is until the final few minutes of the night.
The Devils and Penguins hooked up on a swap, as the Devils sent defenseman Filip Hronek to the Penguins, receiving back forward Nicolas Roy and a trio of prospects, including Filip Mesar, Oskar Fisker-Molgaard, and Christian Kyrou.
It was hard to part with Hronek, but this helps us revamp our forward group. Roy should be a solid anchor on our third line for the foreseeable future, and we added some prospect depth on the wings, which we needed.
Roy has nine goals and 33 points in 66 games this year.
The final trade came just as the closing bell was literally ringing, as the Ottawa Senators and Devils hooked up on a major deal. The devils shipped Weegar, defenseman Kevin Bahl, Buffalo's 1st round draft pick this year and a 7th round draft pick to Ottawa, in exchange for forward Philip Danault and Ottawa's 2nd round draft pick in 2025.
"We wanted to get a top two line forward, and Danualt checked off a lot of boxes for us," explained Allen. "We got a guy who cane score but also be defensively responsible as well, and he's really good in the faceoff circle as well."
Danault has mustered 12 goals and 26 points in 67 games this year, playing less than 16 minutes a night. He's expected to get more ice time and opportunity in New Jersey.
"We were disappointed with our defensive effort this season and felt the forwards were to often leaving the blueline out to dry," Allen assessed bluntly. "Roy and Danault are well renowned for their defensive, two-way mindset and this should significantly help things in that regard."
Allen also was quick to defend Weegar and Hronek as they departed.
"Filip was an amazing player for us for the past several years and Mac came in and gave us tremendous versatility and depth on the blueline. They were not what ailed this team in the least. Both were consummate professionals and showed up every day ready to work. I can't think them enough for their contributions and honestly, I'm mad that they had to be sacrificed to help address deficiencies in other areas. Two good guys are now out of this organization because we as a team couldn't get our shizznit together and that needs to end. We have the talent here to win and achieve great things, the excuses end here and next year needs to buck the trend," said Allen.
"We really figured we had a playoff caliber squad here this year, especially after we added MacKenzie Weegar early in the season. For some reason, it just didn't click and here we are again, on the outside looking in," explained Allen.
Early into the season, things looked like they may be finally coming together for the Devils. Sitting with an 8-3-1 record after 12 games and riding a five game winning streak, the belief a playoff berth was within reach seemed to be completely accurate for Allen and the Devils. But looks can be deceiving.
The Devils went a mere 11-26-3 in the next 40 games after that, dropping from a top four spot early in the year to nearly the bottom of the league standings. The offense struggled, backup netminder Filip Gustavsson was unable to spell starter Ilya Sorokin successfully and the Devils once again had to reckon with a season lost and countless questions to answer.
While the team did turn it around in the final few weeks leading up to the deadline, going 8-2-2 in the final 12 games, it was to little and much, much to late. Changes were made.
"There's just something off with the mix of players somewhere," said Allen. "On paper, we had a very deep and strong defense, one of the leagues top starting netminders in Sorokin and were very deep down the middle with (Jack) Eichel, Nico (Hischier) and Joel (Eriksson Ek). We felt we could use another top six winger, but overall, the talent on this team should have been enough to have us in the hunt for a playoff spot without question."
"But this game isn't played on paper, and the results showed that. We lost to teams we should have beat. At times, we got our asses handed to us by teams we should have beat. The answers to that problem lies with me and with the guys in the locker room," Allen continued. "We thought about standing pat and giving this team another shot at it again next year, but ultimately we felt we needed to make some changes and try to balance everything out a bit more."
And changes were made. After dealing UFA-to-be Jimmy Vesey ahead of the deadline to Pittsburgh for a 4th round pick, Allen had stated the club was open to swapping a blueliner to add a top six winger, but was quite contend to let that issue resolve itself in the off-season and wouldn't be rushed into a trade just to make a deal. In the end, the deals were able to materialize just moments before the deadline bell last night, putting a lot of the roster issues on the shelf.
The Devils actually kicked off the action on deadline day, engaging in a surprise move with the New York Rangers to send former first round draft pick Peyton Krebs to the Rangers for a 4th round pick and defenseman Mike Matheson.
"It was a bittersweet ending for Krebs here, but we felt there just hadn't been enough progress made. When Mike was made available, we immediately reached out to Geordie and inquired about him. The deal came together extremely quickly, I'd say in about two minutes actually," explained Allen.
"We think Mike's got a lot more to his game than has perhaps materialized thus far. We think he'll be a key piece of our new backend going forward."
Matheson has one goal and 19 points in 55 games this year.
After that, the Devils were busy on the phone for much of the day but it appeared nothing was going to get completed, that is until the final few minutes of the night.
The Devils and Penguins hooked up on a swap, as the Devils sent defenseman Filip Hronek to the Penguins, receiving back forward Nicolas Roy and a trio of prospects, including Filip Mesar, Oskar Fisker-Molgaard, and Christian Kyrou.
It was hard to part with Hronek, but this helps us revamp our forward group. Roy should be a solid anchor on our third line for the foreseeable future, and we added some prospect depth on the wings, which we needed.
Roy has nine goals and 33 points in 66 games this year.
The final trade came just as the closing bell was literally ringing, as the Ottawa Senators and Devils hooked up on a major deal. The devils shipped Weegar, defenseman Kevin Bahl, Buffalo's 1st round draft pick this year and a 7th round draft pick to Ottawa, in exchange for forward Philip Danault and Ottawa's 2nd round draft pick in 2025.
"We wanted to get a top two line forward, and Danualt checked off a lot of boxes for us," explained Allen. "We got a guy who cane score but also be defensively responsible as well, and he's really good in the faceoff circle as well."
Danault has mustered 12 goals and 26 points in 67 games this year, playing less than 16 minutes a night. He's expected to get more ice time and opportunity in New Jersey.
"We were disappointed with our defensive effort this season and felt the forwards were to often leaving the blueline out to dry," Allen assessed bluntly. "Roy and Danault are well renowned for their defensive, two-way mindset and this should significantly help things in that regard."
Allen also was quick to defend Weegar and Hronek as they departed.
"Filip was an amazing player for us for the past several years and Mac came in and gave us tremendous versatility and depth on the blueline. They were not what ailed this team in the least. Both were consummate professionals and showed up every day ready to work. I can't think them enough for their contributions and honestly, I'm mad that they had to be sacrificed to help address deficiencies in other areas. Two good guys are now out of this organization because we as a team couldn't get our shizznit together and that needs to end. We have the talent here to win and achieve great things, the excuses end here and next year needs to buck the trend," said Allen.