Introduction
The New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders pulled off a large trade yesterday evening. The deal saw the Devils send forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to Long Island for forwards A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, along with a 2021 first-round pick and conditional fourth-round pick. The Devils are retaining 50% of Palmieri and Zajac’s salaries. Please note, the salary retention means very little for New Jersey as both contracts come off the books at season’s end.
Rapid reactions had Devils Twitter and Facebook in shambles. I urge everyone to take a deep breath; this is not the end of the world. The rest of this article will better help you understand why the Devils moved on from Palmieri and Zajac and also discuss what New Jersey got in return.
The Return
A.J. Greer and Mason Jobst
Greer
A.J. Greer is a 24-year old, left wing. He is listed at 6’3” and 205 lbs. He is a former second-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche back in 2015. Greer played junior hockey in the QMJHL and two seasons at the NCAA for Boston University.
Greer has played in 37 NHL games—all with Colorado—over which he’s registered one goal, five assists, and 47 penalty minutes. Greer (as he will in New Jersey) spent most of his time in the minors. In 209 AHL games, he has a total of 129 points (0.62 points-per-game) and a staggering 270 penalty minutes. Greer is a tough guy with solid size, who’s unafraid to throw his body around and drop the gloves every once in a while.
Jobst
Mason Jobst was an undrafted free agent that signed with the Islanders in 2019. He was brought up in the USHL, after which he played four years of college hockey with Ohio State. He served as the Buckeyes captain for two seasons, compiling 164 points in 150 career games—a solid output.
Jobst made his professional hockey debut in the 2019 season for Bridgeport of the AHL. In his rookie season he played 44 games, totaling 13 points. This year he’s appeared in six games, contributing two assists. Jobst is an all-situations player, who plays with a high motor.
What to Expect?
Both Greer and Jobst are going to provide the New Jersey Devils will nice AHL depth, something the struggling Binghamton Devils (AHL) are currently lacking. It is unlikely either will ever have an impact at the NHL level. Maybe Greer will gets NHL time at some point, but in the end, each player should be regarded as AHL depth.
2021 First Rounder Pick and Conditional 4th Round Pick
First-Rounder
The golden jewel of this trade is the 2021 first-round pick from the Islanders. That pick alone resulted in 3.6 “contract value added,” according to the Athletics’ Dom Luszczyszyn. In comparison, the next-highest “contract value” piece in the deal was Kyle Palmieri at 2.4. Bottom line: that first-round pick is extremely valuable.
Now, many have voiced their displeasure with the fact this pick may very well end up being extremely late in the first round. While that may be true, think for a minute the other teams the Devils may have negotiated a first rounder from: Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs. All arguably better teams than the Islanders.
Fourth-Rounder
As for the conditional fourth-round pick, it has a chance (albeit slim) to become a third-round selection. If the New York Islanders make the Stanley Cup Final this season, the pick becomes a third-round selection in either the 2022 or 2023 draft. The Islanders would get to choose which year. If the Islanders fail to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, then the pick remains a 2022 fourth-round selection.
What to Expect?
With the acquisition of the Islander’s first-round pick, the Devils now own two first-rounders in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. After having three last year, this would give New Jersey five first round picks in the last two drafts. The Devils now have New York’s first and second round-picks this year. In total, the Devils have nine picks in the 2022 NHL Draft (full list below).
The Devils, like last year, have a lot of options with multiple first-round picks. The team can of course make the selection, trade for an impactful NHL player, or use it to their advantage for the Seattle expansion draft. The opportunities are plentiful.
Conclusion
In the end, the New Jersey Devils traded two expiring contracts for a 2021 first-round pick, 2022 fourth-round pick, and two depth AHL forwards. Yes, Travis Zajac was rightfully so a fan favorite. Yes, Kyle Palmieri was the team’s best goal-scorer. But, as mentioned, both were on expiring contracts and all but certain not to return next season. So, why not get value out of each?
The only way the Devils were going to get maximum value for Kyle Palmieri was if they included Travis Zajac. The perfect team to do so? The New York Islanders. Zajac had a no-trade clause in his contract he was most likely not willing to waive, as he showed last season. Doing so for the Islanders does make sense given his relationship with ex-Devils’ General Manager (and current Islanders GM) Lou Lamoriello.
I personally would have rather seen the New Jersey Devils go the rumored route of acquiring a second-round pick and higher-level prospect, but it was reported by many General Manager Tom Fitzgerald valued a first-round pick extremely highly, and rightfully so.
Additionally worth noting, according to Cap Friendly, the New Jersey Devils have the most cap space in the NHL at roughly $10,000,000. At year’s end, they’re projected to have $30,000,000-plus in room. Not only can Fitzgerald use this to his advantage in the offseason, but can continue to at the trade deadline. Several teams will be looking to shed in advance of the end of the season, or to make room while gearing up for a playoff run. New Jersey is the perfect team for that kind of help.
The trade deadline is certainly not over as the Devils still have a couple of other players that may be moved. Dmitry Kulikov, Ryan Murray, and Aaron Dell at the forefront. You can read more about them here.