Trade confirmed: Minnesota Wild - New Jersey Devils

Détails de la transaction
Les Wild du Minnesota font l’acquisition de: Michael Kapla · 0 $874 125 $70 000 $ (LAH/JR) Somme: 0 $874 125 $70 000 $ Variation: 0 $ Variation: +224 125 $ Variation: +70 000 $	Les Devils du New Jersey font l’acquisition de: Ryan Murphy · 0 $650 000 $275 000 $ (LAH/JR) Somme: 0 $650 000 $275 000 $ Variation: 0 $ Variation: -224 125 $ Variation: +275 000 $

Kapla is an expiring RFA; Murphy will walk after this year and might never see NHL ice again. Far from a blockbuster, but could be a sneaky good pickup.

Both guys are likely to be Career AHLer's. Can't believe how much of a bust Murphy turned out to be.

Sight edge Devils. While Murphy never lived up to his 12th overall pedigree, he has still proven himself to be a solid NHL-7th/AHL-top pair D-Men; he’s also a R-shot (to Kapla’s L) adding value and at least compensating for being 17 months Kapla’s senior. Despite Murphy being a UFA (Kapla has one more year before he hits UFA), it is not unreasonable to think the Devils may be able to sign him, particularly if it looks like there may be opportunity for him to see some NHL minutes at RD. In contrast, Kapla hasn’t shown he’s anything more than an average-AHL’er with no offensive acumen - I doubt he plays for Minnesota in the next year and a bit (barring multiple injuries to their blueline).
For NJD this trade is “tiny risk, small reward” - so my vote goes where there is greater upside.

Devils are still in desperate need of a top pair of D. They need a puck moving offensively oriented PP D (maybe Ty Smith) and a top pair shutdown D (none in system that I'm aware of). Severson and Vatanen, both solid, are best suited for 2nd pair in my opinion. Butcher is a major defensive liability and Greene is excellent as a 3rd pairing D moving forward.

Yep, the Devils and almost every other NHL team (excepting Tampa & Boston & Buffalo and maybe Toronto now, Columbus, Carolina & Washington, Calgary & San Jose, and Dallas & St.Louis) could use an upgrade on their top pairing. But top to bottom the NJD blueline is without a doubt in the bottom 1/3 of the League.

Looking more closely, the right side is solid in terms of depth but everyone is probably slugging a bit above their weight as there is no legit top pair RD. The Devils have Severson & Santini signed for the next 2 years after this season and, behind them, some combination of Mueller, Josh Jacobs (2014 2nd Rounder), and the newly acquired Murphy should be able to fill the 3rd pair RD and 7th D roles well between the 3 of them.

On the Left, there’s a reasonably solid 1st pair LD in Vatanen but the depth after that is concerning. Greene is really a 3rd pair D-Men at this stage and Butcher is strictly a 3rd pair PP guy - asking either of them to play higher in the lineup is setting them up to fail. Next season, it’s likely that Ty Smith will be able to step into the 3-LD role (maybe with some time down in the AHL to adjust to the pro game). His arrival will make Butcher immediately expendable as Smith can start as a 3rd pair LD and PP specialist (basically Butcher’s role) and work his way up from there. Greene likely retires in 15 months when his contract expires and Butcher could be trade bait at the 2020 trade deadline, if not this trade deadline, to maximize his value.

So, finding a Top pair RD would be great but those are like unicorns. More realistically the Devils may be able to find a 2nd pair LD to slide into the lineup below Vatanen and above Greene/Butcher and focus on obtaining young D-Men thru the drafts and trading older players. What can they get for Johansson? For Lovejoy? Maybe a couple mid-round picks or a decent prospect? What about trading Butcher for a younger D-prospect? Would trading Palmeiri be on the table? It’s likely by the time the Devil’s rebuild is complete he will Be past his prime.

The Devils may have the answer to their LD conundrum in-house with Yakovlev, who has looked solid in the AHL as he adjusts to the NA game. I imagine slotting into such a role was why they brought him to NA in the first place. I’d look to the Devils to resign him in the coming days if they still see a role for him - if not Yakovlev (a UFA despite it being his first year) will be gone by the trade deadline.

Shero finally woke up after his year long slumber

NJ's obviously giving Murphy one more chance. Kapla could be a decent 3rd pairing d-man. Right now, probably more of an AHLer though. I think it's a fair deal.

It was about 11 months

Looking at the Devils roster Shero has basically made it drafted Devils players and former 1st round picks from other teams: Hall ( EDM 2010 - 1st overall), Palmieri (ANA 2009 - 26th overall), Johansson (WSH 2009 - 24th overall), Boyle (LAK 2003 - 26th overall), Stafford (BUF 2004 - 13th overall), Mueller (SAN 2013 - 18th overall), Noesen (OTT 2011 - 21st overall), Schneider *traded was by Lou* (VAN 2004 - 6th overall) and now Murphy (CAR 2011 - 12th overall) ...

For a total of 8 former 1st round pick on the NHL roster and, now Murphy, 1 former 1st round pick on the AHL roster: for a combined grand total of 9 former 1st picks in Devils system!!!!

I really don't like Butcher as a long term fit. His 5 on 5 numbers are abysmal. His PP numbers are also weak as long as Hall is out of the lineup. He certainly doesn't defend well 5 on 5, and he doesn't kill penalties at all. He's a pending RFA, so it'll be interesting to see what Shero does this summer, but I think it's safe to say that Butcher's value has dropped considerably from a year ago. Remember, Butcher is only a 2nd year pro, but he's already 24 years old. I'd be willing to offer 2 years at about $1.5M and that's about it.

Shero needs to pursue Mark Stone as a UFA this summer. I don't think Panarin would sign in NJ, but he'll most likely be available, too. If the Devils can land a top UFA Winger they could be right back in contention next season.