New Jersey just traded someone they drafted 6th overall and is under team control for an older player they'll have to sell off at the trade deadline next year for a 3rd round pick.
As a team that won't be making the playoffs, this trade makes no sense for the Devils whatsoever.
Haula won't put up the same amount of points he did between Hall and Pasta next season, Zacha won't really get the chance to centre them either though since Krejci is coming back
I like it for both teams tbh, Bruins get younger and the guy with the higher upside but lower floor imo so I'm happy
If Buffalo trades Craig Anderson for Cory Schneider, does Buffalo win the trade because they got the younger goalie?
Zacha will be 26 this season. He is primed to be overpaid in arbitration. Maybe Boston likes his size and thinks they might be able to tweak or elevate his game.
This trade is basically that Zacha isn't worth much in terms of picks/prospects, New Jersey doesn't want to pay him a high arbitration settlement or lose him for nothing, so they swapped him for a cost controlled veteran who is coming off a strong season relative to his cap hit.
There is a very reasonable chance New Jersey ends up getting more value from this trade, once you factor in the extra cap they save this season.
As a biased Devils fan, I'm willing to give Tom Fitzgerald the benefit of the doubt here. Zacha has been as frustrating to watch as anyone in hockey over the last few years. He looked to be on the verge of a major breakout after the 20-21 season only to regress last season. He needed to go.
I almost checked out from my previous habit of watching most Bruins games every season last year because of the Haula signing. He's never been good, there are no redeeming qualities to keep him on the lineup, and less so for paying him almost 3 mil towards the cap. I'm so greatful this happened.
Haula won't put up the same amount of points he did between Hall and Pasta next season, Zacha won't really get the chance to centre them either though since Krejci is coming back
I like it for both teams tbh, Bruins get younger and the guy with the higher upside but lower floor imo so I'm happy
Always liked Zacha. He has potential, but just couldn't reach it in NJ, and I'm convinced it kinda went both ways as to why. It's worth taking a chance and giving him a look.