Garland for Severson or Graves

I think Fitzy saves his ammo for big off-season acquisition and keeps all the UFAs.

But if the best trade presents itself before deadline, ie only chance to get a guy like Meier, Boeser, etc … maybe he jumps at it.

Also, based on his history, there is a good chance his top targets aren’t on any deadline lists. Most of his deals have been unexpected (Graves deal being the exception).

I think it depends how they look in the next month. If your still withing a few pts of the division idk how you don't do something to help in the playoffs. I don't think you sell the farm for like Meier but something.

I agree with you. The only deals I can foresee are if Fitzgerald is convinced that he can't re-sign Graves or Severson or both (because if he's not CONVINCED, it's smarter to keep them through the playoffs), or if Arizona makes Vejmelka available (which they shouldn't).

I agree with you. I see the Devils as soft buyers overall.

It’s likely that Fitzgerald will trade for a rental forward (Middle Six) to help the team down the stretch. He will reward the team for outperforming expectations and give them some depth. It’s also true that Fitzgerald is willing to deal Severson if the right package came. Don’t know much about Blackwood, but if the opportunity came, he’s gone as well.

Bahl, Okhotiuk, Walsh, Foote and Thompson all lose their waiver exemptions next season. I wouldn’t be surprised if 1-2 of them are dealt at the TDL.

Any major acquisitions will happen in the offseason. Fitzgerald wants to see the team through the season, analyze the weak points on the roster and make adjustments in the offseason. Great things take time.

Agree 100%, he stands pat.

Fitzgerald keeps all future assets, unless he can pick up a veteran 3C, that fits cap, with playoff experience at deep value (like a 5th) ... unlikely all those stars align.

It's been a great season. The chemistry struck with vets/youth & blueline depth have been a revelation... I think he keeps all the UFAs and rides it out. Hughes, Hischier and the fans want to win now. Fitz will feel that, let it ride & accept the lost opportunity of gathering more future assets available by way of trading Sever, Graves, Haula, Wood, Tatar ...

I'm just thinking of the 2017-2018 with Shero and the minor moves he made. He added Grabner and Maroon. So do you think we'll see players like that then? And who would you take out of the lineup? When Marino comes back it's safe to say Okhotiuk is coming out.

I’d say Bahl gets sent to the AHL and Okhotiuk is 7D.

I don’t really know who would leave the lineup tbh. It’s a tough decision.

That train is long gone, the value added by Garland would be nowhere close to what Graves or Severson provides.
Having one of the league's strongest defences has been instrumental in the Devils success so far and Severson and Graves have been nothing short of instrumental in making that happen.



I have a hard time seeing how trading for a rental could be construed as 'rewarding the team', would it not just a contributor to this teams success out of the lineup?

The Devils have plenty of depth going into the playoffs as is.
With everyone back healthy, the Devils will have 6 viable NHL level bodies not dressing for any given game (Zetterlund, Holtz, Johnsson, Okhotiuk, Bahl and Schmid).
On top of that the Devils could also have guys like Luke Hughes, Gritsyuk, Foote, Thompson, Walsh, Nemec, Mukhammadulin and Daws to draw into the lineup in case of emergency.
I don't see the point in going out and wasting a couple of mid rd picks on bottom 6 FWDs or 3rd pairing defenders.

The only way I could see a trade going down is if there are multiple long-term injuries sustained to key players.
But even then I'd probably prefer to give the youth any additional experience over some no-name rental the Devils will never see from again.
The Devils aren't gonna win the cup this year anyway.

I mean they're fighting for the division and are 5th best overall right now, yeah young teams usually have to stumble and fall before winning and I wouldn't sell the farm but a couple depth pieces shows faith in the team and that can bolster a young hockey club.

Can Bahl be sent down? I thought he has to clear waivers now. I do like Okhotiuk more, but Okhotiuk can be sent down without waivers.

Bahl and Okhotiuk are waiver exempt this season, but they both lose their exemption for next season (along with Foote, Thompson and Walsh).
Check the waivers-calculator if you haven't, it's a pretty good tool to get a hang of that stuff: https://www.capfriendly.com/waivers-calculator