Here are my quick hits following the NHL trade deadline, heading into tonight’s game vs. WPG:
Jack Out for the Season
Wow, Devils fans, lots to catch up on since the last time we chatted! Starting with the tough news, geez, what a gut-wrenching blow to lose Jack for the rest of the season. First, you lose Marky, your number-one goaltender, for 10 games with a sprained knee. Then, you lose your number-one defensive defenseman in Siegenthaler, who will be reevaluated in the next couple of weeks. To make matters even worse, just two days after losing your number-one offensive forward for the rest of the season, you then watch Dougie, your number-one offensive defenseman, go down in the DAL game. Talk about a perfect storm of key injuries this season... but none hurts this team more than Jack's.
Brian Dumoulin
With all that being said regarding the injuries, it should come as no surprise that GM Fitzy went out and added a left-shot D in Brian Dumoulin to the backend. The goal remains to win hockey games and be a playoff team, and GM Fitzy's first move reflected that.
Rachel and I talked about Dumoulin being a potential trade candidate during Sunday’s pregame show in Vegas, and that’s because he’s a 2-time Stanley Cup Champion and veteran presence that will come in and provide you steady minutes in a shutdown role. He’s logging over 19 minutes of TOI a night, including over 2 minutes of PK time, and quietly had 2-2–4 PTS in his last 8 GP with ANA before the trade. I'm looking forward to seeing what type of workload he gets in his Devils debut tonight!
Here’s a look back at some of my initial comments on Dumoulin from that pregame segment in Vegas:
Kovacevic Extension
No, it's not a trade, but today’s extension of Kovacevic (for 5 years at $4M AAV) was a great deal for the Devils organization. You secure the right side of the ice and what could be a No. 1 shutdown D-pairing with Siegenthaler for at least the next three seasons at a great dollar value, especially with the cap projections going up. For Kovy to not only come into training camp and earn an everyday spot on this team — but then also transform himself into an outstanding shutdown defenseman in this league — is a credit to him for seizing the opportunity he had after being traded to a new team. As seen in the graphic below, the Siegenthaler-Kovacevic pair this season has had tremendous metrics at 5v5. Shot suppression, chance suppression, and goal suppression have all been top-of-the-line vs. any NHL D-pairing that has played 500+ min 5v5. If these guys can remain a steady pairing over the next few years, you’re looking at $7.4M tied into a pairing that can do a lot of heavy lifting for you. A lot to like about this extension!
Cody Glass
Another other part of the plan (aside from the LHD) was to add a 3rd or 4th line center for your bottom six. This part of the plan was executed in Cody Glass. Maybe the Devils had their eyes on someone like Jake Evans earlier on, but when he wasn’t available due to the extension he got with MTL, Fitzy did a great job pivoting to Glass as a great second option. Glass has a bigger frame than Evans and can fill that need of a depth center for you, while also having some team control as an expiring RFA after this season (compared to Evans being a UFA). I like the fact the Devils will have an opportunity to extend him if he fits in this trial.
Daniel Sprong
Another piece they were able to execute was Daniel Sprong, who has been in the minors as he’s had a tough season. However, this is a guy who’s coming off a 21-goal season two seasons ago and 18 goals last season. Hopefully, he’s able to find that scoring touch again down the stretch with the Devils. He’s coming off back-to-back 40+ point seasons and has proven that he’s not an AHL player with the way he’s played in Coachella Valley this season (11-14–25 PTS in 19 GP). This is a trade that could potentially go under the radar and pay significant dividends for the Devils.
Dennis Cholowski
The Devils also acquired Dennis Cholowski from NYI, who will report straight to the NHL with the Devils. This is a 27-year-old, 6’2”, 210 lb LHD, and former 20th overall pick by DET back in 2016. This is a depth piece that gives the Devils some options.
Shane LaChance
Last but not least, a trade that came a few days ago is the acquisition of 21-year-old prospect Shane LaChance, who is already a captain at Boston University. This is a kid who has the 6’5” frame to become a power forward in the NHL and seems to be a leader wherever he goes. This could be someone who blossoms into a nice piece for the Devils in a couple of seasons.
Final Thoughts
Now, at face value, yes, it can be said that Fitzy wasn't able to do much. Though, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t busy and in every trade conversation. It’s important to keep in mind that it takes two teams to make a trade, and some players have some say where they want to go. At the end of the day, Fitzy was able to execute two of the three pieces they needed: a 3/4C & a LHD. Unfortunately, they just weren’t able to get that top-six forward. Daniel Sprong was a nice last-minute add to potentially help out the bottom six production, having scored 21 goals two seasons ago and coming off a hat trick on Wednesday in the AHL, where he has 11-14–25 PTS in 19 GP with Coachella Valley. But again, Sprong does not fill the need in the top six right now with Jack out for the season.
Rachel and I are looking forward to getting some behind-the-scenes insight on the air with Fitzy during our pregame show tonight!
WPG Pre-Scout
Looking ahead to tonight’s game, this will be a very tough test for the Devils, but one that I think is set up perfectly for them right now. No, to come home from a tough road trip and immediately face a WPG team that is fighting for the President’s Trophy right now – and 12-2-1 over their last 15 games – is never easy, but this is the type of game that can really galvanize your group when you're rallying around all the recent adversity. That's not to mention that the Jets rested Connor Hellebuyck last night in their 4-1 W in PHI, meaning the reigning Vezina winner (and Vezina favorite again this season) will likely get the start tonight at the Rock. 
For me, special teams are going to need to get the job done tonight; they will likely be the difference if the Devils can pry points out of this game. It was a tremendous start in DAL to go 2/2 in the first 2 PPs without Jack and Dougie, and I’m optimistic that execution can continue against a struggling Jets’ PP if you can extend some OZ Possession time and draw a few PP opportunities. On the other hand, the PK is going to have to be much better than it’s been since the break, considering WPG’s PP has been lights out this season. Interesting how these two teams have been nearly identical in their special teams execution since the break! 
Be sure to tune in at 6:30 p.m. tonight for our pregame show as GM Tom Fitzgerald chats with Rachel and me at the desk.
Let's Go Devils!
-Sal
