Confirmed with Link: (G) J. Markstrom (30% retention) traded to NJ for (D) Kevin Bahl, 2025 1st rd pick (Top 10 protected)

[forceten]

I'm okay with this. I don't like giving up first rounders, but that it's at least top-10 protected helps it a little. We still have a thin pipeline in some spots so having no 2nd and no 1st so often has hurt. That said, $6M for two above-average goalies should be a huge change. We still have Schmid, Daws, Poulter, Brennan, and Malek in the pipeline, so there's more room to do things. Bahl was never going to be more than a #6 or #7 here, and with Hatakkah, Vilen, (list goes on) there's less risk in dealing him.

We also didn't hurt our forward depth which likely someone like Ullmark or for sure Saros would have required. I'd have preferred someone a few years younger though.

It's done, we have it, what's next?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Right now we only have 2 established PK Dmen. And lost another big PKer two years in a row...Bahl should be easy to replace but we are going one step backward and one step forward with this move.

Bahl can be replaced with guys we already have in the system or someone signed off the street. He stunk.

 

[NJDevs26]

Massive cost difference.

Yeah if Siegs was in the deal there'd be zero retention, that would have been the retention and they might have wanted something else too.

 

[bossram]

Take out Bahl and replace with Hatakka, misyul, vilen and I'm not sure the team will be worse off moving forward. His subtraction isn't a big deal for me

No. They can't be trying to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Prospect. Disaster waiting to happen.

 

[AfroThunder396]

The price is pretty good, the 1st will be in the mid 20's and Kevin Bahl sucks.

We now have a solid goaltending tandem, a significant upgrade at coach, all of our injured stars are coming back healthy. AND we still get to pick a top-10 prospect.

 

[JimEIV]

They're not going to play Haatka or some kid from the farm in Bahl's missing spot. Clearly the plan is to get another established LHD and bump Siegs back down.

Yeah and we're still short a PK Dman AFTER we replace Bahl.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

What conversation, the we need a goalie conversation? If we have that then that's problematic because by then you would think at least one of Daws, Schmid or Poulter would do enough to get entrusted with 1A minutes. Fitz clearly didn't want to do that again in the near-term but eventually they'll have to **** or get off the pot with all three.

Yes, that conversation. But I did prefer Markstrom over Saros and the price for Ullmark would have been crazy scary.

 

[Forge]

No. They can't be trying to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Prospect. Disaster waiting to happen.

That goes for Bahl too, which is why I think he's out the door. I think the intention now was always to add a guy to that side

But moving forward, Bahl is not a substantial upgrade from those prospects. Bahl is barely out of that prospect category himself

 

[Cheddabombs]

No. They can't be trying to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Prospect. Disaster waiting to happen.

They also couldn't try to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Bahl, so we're still in a similar boat of needing an upgrade there while also getting a starting goalie

 

[Guadana]

Devils should sign LD UFA.

Its good to save 10OA, I hope Fitz will save it and he isnt as doomed and stupid to trade it.

But we need Skjei. For free. For his salary. Losing three first rounds in a row with 2nd round picks... would be very bad for this depth.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

No. They can't be trying to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Prospect. Disaster waiting to happen.

Brenden Dillon, you are a New Jersey Devil

 

[Alex NJD]

The price is pretty good, the 1st will be in the mid 20's and Kevin Bahl sucks.

We now have a solid goaltending tandem, a significant upgrade at coach, all of our injured stars are coming back healthy. AND we still get to pick a top-10 prospect.

I believe you mean 32nd

 

[Emperoreddy]

They also couldn't try to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Bahl, so we're still in a similar boat of needing an upgrade there while also getting a starting goalie

Yeah an ideal offseason before this trade would have Bahl sitting on the bench all year because we brought in someone to push Siegs down and Bahl out

 

[forceten]

JimEIV has a point on the PK. I do think Keefe will be revamping EVERYTHING so I hope that includes the PK. Just seeing what Knoblauch did with Edmonton on PK gives me hope that a coach can change this.

Edit: I also am happy for Bahl because I think in Calgary he will get a lot more playing time and a shot at being a true regular in the league, and I think he will be successful.

 

[EnglishDevil]

That's a really good deal, Bahl is a replacement level player and a (hopefully) late first next year that's top-10 protected isn't a steep price at all.

Markstrom & Allen should give us decent goaltending for the next couple of years while we search for a long term solution in net, plus the retention on both means our tandem costs all of about ~$6m which should allow us to strengthen significantly in other areas.

Lastly I'm not at all sad to see Bahl leave, we clearly need an upgrade on the left side; as much as I like Siegenthaler he has his limitations and Hughes is still super green and likely another few years away from consistently performing at an elite level. Even Hatakka looked better than Bahl when he played anyway, there's simply no way we should have been going into this season with Bahl penciled into a starting role if we expect to contend.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

That goes for Bahl too, which is why I think he's out the door. I think the intention now was always to add a guy to that side

But moving forward, Bahl is not a substantial upgrade from those prospects. Bahl is barely out of that prospect category himself

In theory if he grew into his role he would have been very important for this team. I understand that is a big if.

 

[bossram]

That goes for Bahl too, which is why I think he's out the door. I think the intention now was always to add a guy to that side

But moving forward, Bahl is not a substantial upgrade from those prospects. Bahl is barely out of that prospect category himself

I'm quite a bit higher on Bahl than most, it seems. A kid that put up strong defensive metrics in the NHL despite playing tough competition. That's much farther along the development curve than a guy like Hattaka. And he's still 23.

Regardless, Fitz needs to find a top-four LHD and there are pretty much none on the UFA market. He also needs a top-six forward.

 

[Saugus]

Does this make it more likely that Casey makes the team out of camp?

I can’t imagine it’s the plan to roll with three young defensemen. More likely Fitz goes and gets another defenseman via trade or UFA. But moving Bahl did free up a spot.

 

[NJDevs26]

Yeah and we're still short a PK Dman AFTER we replace Bahl.

And who are you punting to get a fourth PK D-man, Marino or Siegs who already play there? Luke, Nemec and Dougie are going nowhere.

 

[bossram]

Devils should sign LD UFA.

Its good to save 10OA, I hope Fitz will save it and he isnt as doomed and stupid to trade it.

But we need Skjei. For free. For his salary. Losing three first rounds in a row with 2nd round picks... would be very bad for this depth.

There are basically no legit top-four LHD on the market other than Skjei. He's going to have a ton of teams chasing him and the price will be astronomical.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I like the trade. All rumors out there seem to indicate Markstrom was the best of all the bad options. There was no one NJ could sign, and it's unclear how available Saros and Ullmark really are, especially if they need extensions for any trade to go down. Markstrom at 2 years is maybe the best option because he can't sign an extension and should be a good bet to deliver NHL caliber goaltending for two years.

I like that Fitz was aggressive cause this offseason looks dreadful for any team looking to acquire goaltending, and this acquisition price is good for a 4m dollar starter signed for 2 years. The only other name that intrigued me was Spencer Knight which would have been ballsy as hell but not a good choice for an organization desperately in need of stability moreso than the potential of getting a multiyear starter in the pipeline.

I also really like that NJ didn't trade down from 10 in this draft, the prospect pipeline is currently pretty sad, and whoever they draft likely is their no. 1 prospect immediately, and could be in the NHL within 2 years, probably 4 max.

A win/win trade, great work by Fitz imo.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Not happy but not gunna blow someone's head off. Bahl is whatever and a low 1st round pick is whatever

 

[bossram]

They also couldn't try to contend with a left side of Siegs-Luke-Bahl, so we're still in a similar boat of needing an upgrade there while also getting a starting goalie

The hope is they've solved their goaltending issues but...goalies man.

The LDH market is very bad. Fitz will have to work to upgrade there.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Not happy but not gunna blow someone's head off

Well that's good.

 

[Blackjack]

Giving up big assets for a non-elite goaltender is a strategy with a great track record.

On the other hand, we never see goalies get picked up off the scrap heap for dirt cheap and turn out to be as good as or better than much more expensive options.

Nice job Fitz.