It is officially official: Business Season is here.
With the NHL trade deadline less than a week away, a big East Division swap went down on Wednesday night when the Tri-State club, the Devils and Islanders, traded players and picks. The New York team pushed forward Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac, while New Jersey received two minor leggers and a few draft picks – one was a first rounder.
This is a good deal for both clubs as the Devils stock the cupboard and Isle found two men who could help unfold the Stanley Cup contenders.
Here’s how the teams did it:
Islanders Received from New Jersey:
Kyle Palmieri (F) and Travis Zajac (F)
Devil received from New York:
AJ Greer (F), Mason Jost (F), 2021 first round pick, 2022 conditional fourth round pick
Both Zajac and Palmieri will have 50 percent of their salaries in New Jersey.
Devils Grade: B +
Devils GM Tom FitzGerald knows how to make moves. Last year at the deadline (when he was interim) he made three deals, and then sent Blake Coleman to Lightning and Andy Green for the Isles. This year they traded two people, who would be unrestricted free agents in the summer of this year, whom they could have lost without taking anything.
NHL TRADE TRACKER 2021: List of completed deals before the deadline
With a young core including Jack Hughes, Ty Smith and netminder McKenzie Blackwood, Fitzgerald went out and added at least one more potential young star with that first-round pick. New Jersey now includes nine picks in the 2021 draft, including two in the opening round. Greer is a 2015 second-round pick and Jobst was not undone; Both were playing in the AHL with Bridgeport.
“It sets us up really well for the future,” said Fitzgerald on Zoom after the deal. “We think we got three really good prospects that can come and develop under our development program and develop these players to be the players we want to be.”
While the 2021 draft is not considered as deep as it is until 2020, the Devils may find a quality guy in the latter part of the first round, hoping for a FitzGerald pick to fall.
“I hope this is the 32nd pick, I really do. I hope these two gentlemen can win a cup and we will get the 32nd pick. I would like nothing more than that.”
Islanders Grade: A-
The Islanders lost captain Anders Lee, who tied with Brock Nelson for the team’s goal lead (12) due to a season-ending knee injury in March. According to Brian Compton of NHL.com, GM Lou Lamoriello noted that the way the team reacted (8-4-0) after Lee landed, they needed to take a step to help the lineup grow.
“I know what they bring on ice” Lamoriello said About its latest acquisition. “I also know what kind of people they are and what they bring to the locker room. Chemistry is extremely important to me.”
Lamoriello especially knows Zajac, who drafted in 2004 with the 20th overall pick for the Devils. The two-way center spent his entire career at Garden State and earned 550 points in 1,024 games. He also has 28 points in 57 playoff games, including 14 points during the Devils’ 2012 Stanley Cup runner-up run.
He will probably be a lower-six man for Barry Trotz’s club, but what he brings as a veteran veteran – and that longtime playoff run – is intangible for the squad. It should be noted that Zajac waived his no-trade clause to visit the island and that it was considering a short drive (traffic permitting) from NJ to Uniondale, which was probably a big reason.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity,” Zajac said. “On [this] In my career and where I am, I need a chance to win. I believe this is a team that has all aspects of a winning hockey team and can try and be a part of that and help them in any way they can… I think It was just for me, it was the right time. “
For Palmieri, he was the blue-chip in the deal. Prior to the move, he was considered one of the top players expected to move. ()Trade Bet Board of TSN He had it at No. 2.) The 30-year-old winger has scored only 34 points this season (in 34 games), but he has scored more than 20 consecutive goals in each of the past five seasons. In 595 career games between the Ducks and Devils, he has 183 goals and 172 assists. A change of scenery, and playing with the likes of Matt Barzal may highlight his crime.
“The opportunity to go and be part of a team that has the opportunity to do something special, is what every player wants” Palmieri told reporters. “That’s all you can ask. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.”
In addition to joining a team that can go on a long-haul runway, two new Islanders will also be welcomed – from a social distance – to old friends and comrades Green and Corey Schneider (Taxi Squad).
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