Confirmed Trade: [VGK/NJD] Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid for Paul Cotter and 2025 3rd round pick

[PensandCaps]

Don't understand trading a 7th overall pick coming off a pretty good rookie season at 5v5 production wise.

 

[Jerzey Devil]

Well we’re getting tougher and grittier which is something we needed.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Welcome to the "overpay for a needed bottom 6er" club, Jersey.

The worst part of this trade is admitting that they f***ed up a recent top-10 pick. When you look at the actual value the players carry in June 2024, the deal makes a lot more sense.

Maybe Holtz figures it out in Vegas. It was never going to work in Jersey. He took way too many shifts off and couldn't be trusted at ES. He struggles to keep up with the play and makes way too many mental errors.

 

[NoelVilla]

That is poor payment for Holtz

 

[John Pedro]

Fitz is terrible lmao

 

[Terry Yake]

giving up on holtz already? wasn't he a top 10 pick recently?

 

[MWagg72]

Really hope holtz finds his game in Vegas though. The trade is whatever, the bigger problem is just how bad of a miss that was in the draft. That was a really good draft in that area and the devils totally bricked it

People do say get more darts to throw when talking about draft picks. Luckily, we had three 1st round darts in that draft and Mercer and Muk had better aim.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Don't understand trading a 7th overall pick coming off a pretty good rookie season at 5v5 production wise.

I saw Holtz take a nice shot…… once

 

[goonybird]

Don't understand trading a 7th overall pick coming off a pretty good rookie season at 5v5 production wise.

The team DESPISES him. He's gotta have the shittiest attitude on earth or something

 

[HanSolo]

I truly cannot see what Vegas' vision is. Not that Cotter is some unrecoverable loss but they moved two solid performers for picks and projects.

Neither of these moves really helps the cap situation so I don't f***ing get it

 

[tmg]

The team DESPISES him. He's gotta have the shittiest attitude on earth or something

Ruff / Green and Fitz clearly hated him. I was kinda hoping he would get at least a camp with Keefe to see if the new coaching staff holds the same feeling. Maybe Keefe already saw the tapes and told Fitz “I don’t need to give that another shot”.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

1. I never said he played under Keefe. I said he wanted nothing to do with him.
2. Holtz played the same way under Green. Lost and no hustle. Didn't deserve a meaningful opportunity.

Yeah why give opportunity to young player they should just step in and produce....It's the nhl right so easy anyone can do it

 

[Volica]

Well seems like the Flames pro scouts wanted Bahl over Holtz. Will be interesting to see if Holtz breaks out

This was my thought once I saw this.

Clearly the scouting staff wasn’t a huge fan, and clearly the rest of the league felt the same

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Vegas absolutely bending over the Devils, wow.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

This has potential to be worse than Erat for Forsberg...

I truly cannot see what Vegas' vision is. Not that Cotter is some unrecoverable loss but they moved two solid performers for picks and projects.

Neither of these moves really helps the cap situation so I don't f***ing get it

What the f*** do you not get? They got younger and better potential. Vegas is still loaded all around.

 

[Nico Hischier]

I like adding cotter

I do not like giving up holtz yet

This could go down as a terrible trade if holtz turns into a 30 goal scorer

 

[Adele Dazeem]

The team DESPISES him. He's gotta have the shittiest attitude on earth or something

There must be a locker room rift because you don't trade a 7th overall who is 22 and put up 16 goals last season playing miniscule minutes.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

We were told Holtz was worth a 1st????

By who?

 

[Vegan Knight]

I truly cannot see what Vegas' vision is. Not that Cotter is some unrecoverable loss but they moved two solid performers for picks and projects.

Neither of these moves really helps the cap situation so I don't f***ing get it

Cotter for Holtz is mostly useless for mostly useless but with potential, and who is more scoring minded which Vegas needs. They got an extra goalie prospect who looks good. They added possibly 400k total.

Thompson wanted a trade and they did the best they could with Schmid's potential to be good enough while also being cheap. They can make trades in season if need be.

The only thing I question is the choosing Hill over Thompson, I just think they're too in love with Hill for what he may bring going forward.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Terrible trade from Fitz. He's been pretty brutal over the last 18 months.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Cotter for Holtz is mostly useless for mostly useless but with potential, and who is more scoring minded which Vegas needs. They got an extra goalie prospect who looks good. They added possibly 400k total.

Thompson wanted a trade and they did the best they could with Schmid's potential to be good enough while also being cheap. They can make trades in season if need be.

The only thing I question is the choosing Hill over Thompson, I just think they're too in love with Hill for what he may bring going forward.

Hill got them their Cup; that holds a lot of weight. Schmid is solid as a backup.
Vegas is easily the best run organization when it comes to asset management.

 

[Devilsfan118]

Fitz has shown he's not afraid to jettison off young players with potential that have bad work ethics and/or attitudes for established veterans that will more likely buy in to the coach's system.

Zacha for Haula comes to mind. Zacha found a second life in Boston and that deal is starting to look bad for Fitz, and if Holtz does similar with Vegas it's going to look bad as well.

Me personally, I'm okay getting rid of these types of players for those that will continue to help establish a culture in Jersey.
The Devils have the luxury of being able to get rid of skill for grit, based on the current roster.

 

[Aoko]

The team DESPISES him. He's gotta have the shittiest attitude on earth or something

Maybe he's like every HFBoard member and constantly reminds his teammates of his draft position.

Gonna be honest, draft position is one of the stupidest ways to value a player. He didn't work out. And now he's gone. Good riddance. Now he'll probably tear it up in Vegas, lol.

 

[yzerman]

Fitz must have yelled out this one in his sleep and Vegas managment was at the same hotel and record it.Absolut brutal trade for Devils

 

[Cancuks]

Vegas has tampered too much with their team and chemistry. No longer a Cup contender.