New Jersey Devils unveil plan to trade their top-10 pick in a blockbuster deal
The New Jersey Devils missed the playoffs this year despite being considered a favourite to win their division. Moves are coming, and they will be big.
In an interview with the NHL, New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald revealed the team's plan for the off-season:
"If we feel it helps us now and in the foreseeable future, then, yes, I'm listening," New Jersey general manager Tom Fitzgerald told NHL.com on Monday during a break from interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine. "I haven't gotten anything yet but the more I talk to teams, I say 'Listen, I'm open to moving No. 10, but it's going to have to be something (significant).'"
The Devils have six picks in the 2024 draft, including the No. 10 selection and two third-round picks. They traded their second-round pick as part of the compensation to the San Jose Sharks when they acquired forward Timo Meier on Feb. 26, 2023.
"At the end of the day, we're in a position now versus two years ago when we drafted (defenseman) Simon Nemec (No. 2 in the 2022 NHL Draft) where if we can find the right piece to help us get to where we want to go today, tomorrow and wherever the controllable future is for that player, great," Fitzgerald said. "That's the mindset versus 'Great, we have a top-10 pick and this kid is going to be fantastic when he's 25 years old'."
There's no question the Devils are in win-now mode; they failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons after ending the 2022-23 regular season with the most wins (52) and points (112) in franchise history.
"This has got to be that season where we take that step, year in, year out, to consistently be banging on the door," Fitzgerald said. "It has to be. Everybody, including myself, the players, staff, we've got to look in the mirror and say, 'What's going on here?' I think you're going to see a very motivated group."
Fitzgerald was very clear that in order to become a consistent playoff qualifier, however, he needs to upgrade the goalie position. The Devils allowed 3.43 goals per game, tied for 26th in the League, and Jake Allen is the only one of the five goalies to play for them this season who is under contract for 2024-25.
Since being hired as the full-time GM in July 2020, Fitzgerald has seen 12 different goalies play at least one game. Two (Vitek Vanecek, Mackenzie Blackwood) have played 80-plus games, and two others (Nico Daws, Akira Schmid) have totaled at least 40.
"I'm in the goalie market talking to teams, but there's a 'but' and the 'but' is how do we want to build our team?" Fitzgerald said. "We'd like to add up front, we'd like to add on the back end, so what are those pieces going to cost us. With the goaltending, what's that going to cost us?
"Does the No. 10 pick get you that type of player that you can add to the group. It's easy to say, 'Go get so-and-so and then you build from there.' But there are some guys who have different contracts so how are those players going to reprice at. There's a lot to it, but, yes, the focus is on finding that goaltender."
The Devils have six picks in the 2024 draft, including the No. 10 selection and two third-round picks. They traded their second-round pick as part of the compensation to the San Jose Sharks when they acquired forward Timo Meier on Feb. 26, 2023.
"At the end of the day, we're in a position now versus two years ago when we drafted (defenseman) Simon Nemec (No. 2 in the 2022 NHL Draft) where if we can find the right piece to help us get to where we want to go today, tomorrow and wherever the controllable future is for that player, great," Fitzgerald said. "That's the mindset versus 'Great, we have a top-10 pick and this kid is going to be fantastic when he's 25 years old'."
There's no question the Devils are in win-now mode; they failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons after ending the 2022-23 regular season with the most wins (52) and points (112) in franchise history.
"This has got to be that season where we take that step, year in, year out, to consistently be banging on the door," Fitzgerald said. "It has to be. Everybody, including myself, the players, staff, we've got to look in the mirror and say, 'What's going on here?' I think you're going to see a very motivated group."
Fitzgerald was very clear that in order to become a consistent playoff qualifier, however, he needs to upgrade the goalie position. The Devils allowed 3.43 goals per game, tied for 26th in the League, and Jake Allen is the only one of the five goalies to play for them this season who is under contract for 2024-25.
Since being hired as the full-time GM in July 2020, Fitzgerald has seen 12 different goalies play at least one game. Two (Vitek Vanecek, Mackenzie Blackwood) have played 80-plus games, and two others (Nico Daws, Akira Schmid) have totaled at least 40.
"I'm in the goalie market talking to teams, but there's a 'but' and the 'but' is how do we want to build our team?" Fitzgerald said. "We'd like to add up front, we'd like to add on the back end, so what are those pieces going to cost us. With the goaltending, what's that going to cost us?
"Does the No. 10 pick get you that type of player that you can add to the group. It's easy to say, 'Go get so-and-so and then you build from there.' But there are some guys who have different contracts so how are those players going to reprice at. There's a lot to it, but, yes, the focus is on finding that goaltender."
We will see if the Devils can pull off the type of move they need to make. It'll definitely be a fun off-season.
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JUIN 4 | 189 ANSWERS New Jersey Devils unveil plan to trade their top-10 pick in a blockbuster deal Do you think the New Jersey Devils should trade for a superstar goalie? | ||
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| No | 51 | 27 % |
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