A look at the Devils moves, rating each acquisition, and what this means for the rest of the season.
It was unclear whether the Devils would be buyers or sellers going into the 2024 trade deadline. The team has had numerous struggles this season and sits on the precipice of playoff contention. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald took the opportunity to off-load some of the Devils assets and bring in new goaltender options.
Move: Third-round 2024 draft pick and second-round 2025 draft pick in exchange for forward Tyler Toffoli
Rating: Okay
The first move the Devils conducted on trade deadline day was a sale of right wing Tyler Toffoli to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a third-round 2024 draft pick and a second-round 2025 draft pick. Given that there were multiple teams in the hunt for forwards and Toffoli has 44 points on the season and led the Devils in goals, it seems that Fitzgerald could have gotten more out of a deal. The second and third-round draft picks in 2024 and 2025 can help the team in the future, but the loss of Toffoli can certainly impact the team negatively this season. The Devils also retain 50 percent of Toffoli’s contract. Toffoli reportedly wanted to stay in New Jersey but was looking for a longer-term deal that Fitzgerald and management didn’t want to pursue.
Move: Jake Allen from Montreal
Rating: Good
There’s no question that the Devils had to make decisions about their goaltending in response to Vitek Vanecek’s injury and inconsistent play this season. In the first goaltender-related move for the team, Fitzgerald brings in Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Allen is an unrestricted free agent after next season, and Montreal retains 50 percent of his salary. The third-round draft pick that the Canadiens received can become a second-round pick if Allen plays 40 or more games next season and the team he’s on reaches the playoffs in 2025. Allen is an experienced goaltender who has played with St. Louis and Montreal. His save percentage has suffered the past couple of seasons, but he has been playing behind one of the worst defenses in the league. He is currently waiting for his visa to be approved to join the Devils squad. When he gets to New Jersey, he should be able to start seeing playing time as Akira Schmid and Nico Daws have struggled to shoulder the goaltending responsibilities consistently.
Move: Fourth-round 2026 draft pick in exchange for defenseman Colin Miller
Rating: Okay
The Devils sold another piece as they moved defenseman Colin Miller in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2026 from the Winnipeg Jets. Again, this seems like an insignificant return for a player. Miller hasn’t been the best defender for New Jersey this year, but he certainly hasn’t been the worst. The Devils defense has struggled with injury and having to rely on young and inexperienced players for heavy minutes. It would have been nice to obtain a defensive piece at the deadline to help out.
Move: Kaapo Kahkonen from San Jose
Rating: Good
Right at the deadline, when everyone thought the Devils were done, Fitzgerald pulled off another move to secure a goalie. The Devils acquired Kaapo Kahkonen from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goalie Vitek Vanecek and a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft. The biggest positive out of this trade is off-loading Vanecek. He’s had inconsistent play when healthy and is dealing with an injury that could keep him out for the rest of this season. Kahkonen, similar to Allen, has played behind a struggling defense in San Jose and will be looking for a fresh start in New Jersey. Kahkonen is also an unrestricted free agent after this season, so the Devils can consider him, like Allen, a rental. If the goalie tandem of Allen and Kahkonen doesn’t work out the Devils can always pursue options in the off-season.
All in all, the Devils seemed to address only their goaltending issues with this trade deadline. No forwards or defenders were added to help shake things up or provide options for the lineup. The team gave up their best scorer this season and a defensive piece with little return to show for it. They’ve acquired two rental goaltenders who could prove to be a longer-term solution but may not be the ultimate answer to what the Devils need going forward. Especially if the team wants to remain competitive and legitimate playoff contenders.
