Coleman Traded to Tampa

In news that came down during the Devils 4-3 shootout victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier tonight, fan favorite forward Blake Coleman has been dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was the second of two deals made by Devils’ interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald today, a little over a week before the NHL Trade Deadline. Defenseman Andy Greene was sent to the New York Islanders earlier in the day.

Coleman, who had 21 goals and 31 points this season, was traded in exchange for left winger Nolan Foote and Vancouver’s first round pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The pick is conditional. Should Vancouver miss the playoffs this year, the pick becomes the Canucks’ first round pick in 2021.

The Devils could now conceivably have eight picks in the 2020 Draft, including a potential for three first round picks (their own, Arizona’s and the Canucks’ – via Tampa Bay).

Foote, the son of former NHL defenseman Adam, is currently 19 and playing for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. According to the Devils’ press release, Foote has 15 goals and 18 assists (33 points) in 26 games for the Rockets this season. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship back in December, as well. The release mentions that he has played with Ty Smith on the WHL All-Star team at the Jr. Super Series the last two years. Foote stands 6-feet, four-inches tall and weight 200 pounds as of now.

The release says that he was born in Denver while his father was a member of the Avalanche and was selected 27th overall in the first round by the Lightning in 2019.

Fitzgerald summed up the feeling of most fans when he said: “This transaction allows us to acquire two key pieces in continuing to build this team around our foundational cornerstones.” Those “foundational cornerstones” include Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Mackenzie Blackwood according to Fitzgerald himself in a pregame press conference regarding the Greene trade on MSG Network.

He continued: “Foote is a big, physical winger, with an excellent shot and great offensive instincts, especially on the power play. He will complement our young forward group for a long time.”

But in order to get, you have to give. The Devils will miss a player like Coleman, who was a great penalty killer and always dangerous for a shorthanded goal. He really became an all-situations player this year, as he was starting to get more time on the power play.

He was also, of course, a fan favorite. There was a contingent of fans who were interested in seeing Coleman even being named the Devils’ next captain.

But he was going to be a free agent after next season and right now, he was a peak value to a win-now team like the Lightning. The Devils got a really great package back for him, possibly even better than what they got for Taylor Hall. The pick gives them more ammo at the Draft and Foote is, by all accounts, a really good prospect who could be a key part of the Devils moving forward.

So, while it is sad to see Blake Coleman go (he posted a note to Devils fans and management on his social media thanking them for how he was treated in his time in New Jersey), the return we got should make Devils fans very excited for the future.

Greene Traded to Islanders

The Devils today traded their captain, defenseman Andy Greene to the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman David Quenneville and a New York’s second round pick in 2021.

Quenneville, the 21-year-old brother of former Devil John and cousin to former Devil Joel, will report to Binghamton of the American Hockey League.

With the pick, the Devils now possess seven picks in 2021. According to the press release put out by the team on the subject, they have their own first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth round picks, plus the Islanders’ second-round pick and the Coyotes’ third round pick (which is conditional) from the Taylor Hall trade.

This move certainly changes the complexion of the club, as Greene had served as the eleventh captain in team history since named to the post on October 8, 2015. Greene, 37-years-old and one of the oldest players in the NHL, was set to be an unrestricted free agent following this season.

Greene was signed by the Devils as a college free agent out of Miami University of Ohio. He was in his 14th season as a Devil, sharing time with Travis Zajac as longest-tenured Devils. Zajac has a slight edge on Greene there, as he should reach 1,000 games this season, whereas Greene should get there next season. He had played in 923 games as a Devil, good for seventh in that category for the franchise.

This move, which interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald called one he did take “lightly,” puts Greene in a position to compete for a Stanley Cup, a chance he has not gotten since 2012 when the Devils lost to Los Angeles in the Finals. It also gives the Isles a good veteran leader for down the stretch and reunites Greene with Lou Lamoriello, the man who drafted him. The Devils get younger on defense and get something of value instead of losing Greene for free should he walk come July 1.

Greene also gets to remain in the area, something a veteran player with a family and roots is always concerned with.

Fitzgerald mentioned in the press release that “Andy has been a bedrock for the Devils franchise for the past 14 years and an exceptional leader in my time here.” He said that he “constantly communicated with Andy throughout this process to make sure he was comfortable with the decision.”

One concern for the Devils now is who will take the mantle as the next captain? Nico Hischier is a choice that I am sure the team will be heavily considering. Blake Coleman, who is a little older than Nico and a free agent after next season, would be a good option as well. There is support for both men amongst fans. There could be an outlier like a Zajac or a Kyle Palmieri should they remain with the team and not be traded as well.

No matter what happens, good luck to Andy with the Islanders and thank you for your time on the Devils’ blue line. He was a great leader and a mentor to young players who will be the future of this team going forward.