Confirmed with Link: Devils trade 2nd rounder and Herman Traff for Brian Doumilin

[Guadana]

It is understandable trade even if Im not a big fan of.

Traff was the only physical forward we drafted in the right way. And we lost him for rental. I understand that he was what Ducks wanted but I trully believe that they wanted 2nd round pick more. Fitz could sent Vilen or Misyul - both have ~zero chances to play here.

Anyway even if the situation isnt tasty - Fitz cant just let it go and watch how his team, being in play off spot, will lose it because there are no Jack, Dougie and Siegs in the roster. This roster hardly needed in defenseman and Fitz traded him. Its a part of the business.

Now its time to find center.

 

[JrFischer54]

if not a second then what would be a fair trade for this guy?

 

[Devils Trap]

Hatakka is sitting right there. There’s no way you spend those address for marginal upgrade to “even out our defense”. That’s just insane management of assets. At least do it for a guy with term you can potentially flip this summer.

The org clearly doesnt like Hatakka. We dont know if he is any good at the NHL level

 

[AfroThunder396]

I think the best part of this deal is that we once again have 3 LD and 3 RD, which means no more RD-RD bullshit.

 

[Comparison Ford]

The experience this group will get in the playoffs is worth this pricetag…if we make it.

I’ve always liked Doumilin. excited to see him in a devils uniform.

Also signals Jonas is likely done for regular season.

 

[Devils Trap]

I think the best part of this deal is that we once again have 3 LD and 3 RD, which means no more RD-RD bullshit.

This is exactly why Fitz did this. Until Siegs is back oru D core was all out of shape

 

[JrFischer54]

The experience this group will get in the playoffs is worth this pricetag…if we make it.

I’ve always liked Doumilin. excited to see him in a devils uniform.

Also signals Jonas is likely done for regular season.

agreed even if they miss it you can't put a price tag on playing meaningful hockey in march/april for this group thats only done it once

 

[Better Call Sal]

I think the best part of this deal is that we once again have 3 LD and 3 RD, which means no more RD-RD bullshit.

Bingo. Nailed it.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Hes actually pretty solid on a bad team where he is asked to play Top 4 minutes

He would thrive on a 3rd pair role

I just went through every Ducks game cards in 2025 from Hockeystatcards and he is above water in the majority of games and even top 5 in a handful. The “he sucks” posts are pointless as he is a normal 3rd pair guy.

Now if folks want to say the trade sucks then have at it.

 

[blink]

We did this to even out our Defense. With Siegs out, we have 4 RD and 2 LD. Domoulin is going to get the 3rd LD so everyone gets to play on their side

This is great. But you don't give up these assets to balance out the defence.

If it was for a 4th or 5th I'm fine with this. But a prospect we picked in the 3rd round and a 2nd rounder for Dumoulin???

 

[R8Devs]

Everyone is complaining about the weakness of this draft.... Draft picks are over valued as is. Fitz clearly wants to win, so why not give it a go.

bc the 2nd even if not used for the draft could be used for a more beneficial trade than a 3rd pair d-man.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I assume we aren't seeing Siegs again until the postseason at the earliest.

 

[RSeen]

The experience this group will get in the playoffs is worth this pricetag…if we make it.

I’ve always liked Doumilin. excited to see him in a devils uniform.

Also signals Jonas is likely done for regular season.

We aren't winning anything without our best defensive Dman and our best player in Hughes. Maybe, maybe we get lucky and win a round off of good goaltending but that is it.

And we are still missing at least 3 good forwards to be a team that can do anything noteworthy.

Fitz needs to go - have had enough of garbage old school trades/signings/bad drafting. Also more nepotism please - lets bring in more of our scouts kids or draft crappy players in the first round (Stillman) whose fathers were NHLers.

I will say it again - Fitz needs to go.

 

[forceten]

I guess Hatakka and Misyul are not in the plans and not trusted for the remainder of the season? Doumilin is whatever, but a 2nd + a B prospect seems like a lot that we could have used to address the forward crisis.

 

[jkrdevil]

I think this probably means Dougie is out a while now. They don’t want both Nemec and Casey in the lineup at the same time.

 

[theoptimist]

Hes actually pretty solid on a bad team where he is asked to play Top 4 minutes

He would thrive on a 3rd pair role

Thanks for posting. I like JFresh.

 

[NjDevsRR]

We aren't winning anything without our best defensive Dman and our best player in Hughes. Maybe, maybe we get lucky and win a round off of good goaltending but that is it.

And we are still missing at least 3 good forwards to be a team that can do anything noteworthy.

Fitz needs to go - have had enough of garbage old school trades/signings/bad drafting.

This team cannot punt on making the playoffs, they simply can’t and it’s been discussed a lot already as to why

 

[Better Call Sal]

I assume we aren't seeing Siegs again until the postseason at the earliest.

I would assume the same. I don't think Fitz makes this move if there was a sign of Siegs playing earlier. And with the playoff spot hanging in the balance anyway, you have to get there first to have a chance of seeing him again.

 

[Winnie the Pooh]

I like Dumoulin the player and the fit; but the retention is very interesting

My final guess is Dylan Cozens is soon to be a New Jersey Devil. A guy who can play center and then swap to wing if needed, bigger frame but skilled too. 7.1m cap hit for five more years

Add in a rental or (preferably) two-year term third liner and thats just about all the LTIR money

Just a fun guess!

 

[guitarguyvic]

Imagine if the team misses the playoffs after this? Goodness.

 

[RSeen]

This team cannot punt on making the playoffs, they simply can’t and it’s been discussed a lot already as to why

Makes no sense to overpay for a 3rd pair Dman.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I think this probably means Dougie is out a while now. They don’t want both Nemec and Casey in the lineup at the same time.

I don't know if Dougie affects this either way. This lets Pesce go back to the right side and even the defense out. When Dougie is healthy, I assume Nemec comes out for him. Or Kovacevic if he is faltering for any reason.

 

[JrFischer54]

We aren't winning anything without our best defensive Dman and our best player in Hughes. Maybe, maybe we get lucky and win a round off of good goaltending but that is it.

And we are still missing at least 3 good forwards to be a team that can do anything noteworthy.

Fitz needs to go - have had enough of garbage old school trades/signings/bad drafting. Also more nepotism please - lets bring in more of our scouts kids or draft crappy players in the first round (Stillman) whose fathers were NHLers.

I will say it again - Fitz needs to go.

but thats it? you make it sound like thats nothing to win a round in the playoffs when this has done it 1 time in 13 years.

 

[The Wumpus]

The chances of Dumolin coming here and being a decent stabilizing presence on the D and helping us stay in playoff position are probably better than either Traff or the ~58-64th pick turning into anything. The more pressing issue is could we have spent those assets better elsewhere? Dunno.

It would have been fun to have a pesky guy named Herman on the team though.

 

[None Shall Pass]

Yeah we need experienced veteran d-men to ensure that we make the playoffs. You cannot have more than one of Casey, Nemec, and Hatakka learning on the job right now.