James Nichols
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On Wednesday night, the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks struck on the first blockbuster NHL trade of the 2023-24 season. The Canucks ponied up and pulled the trigger on an Elias Lindholm trade, sending Andrei Kuzmenko, a first-round pick, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick to the Calgary Flames. Now that the Flames – Canucks trade is finalized, how does this affect the New Jersey Devils?
The Canucks are firmly in playoff position at the top of the Pacific Division and Western Conference. The Flames, however, are still in the playoff hunt, yet sit five points out of the Wild Card with 33 games remaining in the regular season.
It’s not a surprise to see the Canucks as buyers. However, the Flames seemingly have made their choice. They already sold Nikita Zadorov. Now, they’ve doubled down on the notion. Despite the Devils’ inconsistencies this season, Calgary are sellers, and New Jersey will be buyers.
The Flames certainly own parts that would undoubtedly address the Devils’ needs.
Three of those parts all appear on TSN’s Trade Bait list. Chris Tanev (No. 2), Noah Hanifin (No. 19), and Jacob Markstrom (No. 30).
Do you know who doesn’t appear on the trade bait list? A single Devil. Just in case you needed further proof New Jersey won’t be selling by the deadline.
The good news is the lines of communication are already open between the Devils and Flames. Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald and Flames GM Craig Conroy already connected on a deal last summer. It’s a deal that both sides are certainly happy with at the moment, as Tyler Toffoli is the Devils’ leading goal scorer, as is Yegor Sharangovich for the Flames.
Fitzgerald already made it clear. He’s not happy with the state of the Devils’ goaltending. However, Fitzgerald did mention the Devils’ defense in the same breath, explaining the blue line could be stronger in front of Vitek Vanecek and Nico Daws. The Flames have what the Devils need.
All three of Tanev, Hanifin, and Markstrom have been key in keeping Calgary in the playoff race. Their individual, strong play would certainly strengthen the Devils’ needs. It appears Calgary’s planning for the future. There’s certainly a path here for the two sides to help each other out.
The market has been set by the Flames on a pending unrestricted free agent. A roster player, a first-round and later-round pick, and a couple of blue-chip prospects in exchange for an impact NHLer appear to be the bar. The Devils have the means to meet that price for one of Tanev or Hanifin, although each of their values might vary. The question becomes how much does the price increase by adding a goaltender with term?
The Devils might certainly have to part ways with the likes an Alexander Holtz, who is younger and has a similar high-scoring ceiling as Kuzmenko, plus more. Other names such as Seamus Casey and Arseni Gritsyuk could be in play in a deal of this magnitude.
The Lindholm trade broke the dam and if the Timo Meier deal last season proved anything, it’s that Fitzgerald likes to address his needs before the trade deadline approaches as well.
The March 8th trade deadline is one month and one week away. Perhaps, a move can come down the line sooner than we think.
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