The intrigue of the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston, when asked about the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks, where they may be heading, and what situation intrigues him more.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Johnston: “Probably New Jersey just because, you know, there’s been so much pressure building in that market. And a lot of pressure, specifically from the local reporters trying to get Tom Fitzgerald to talk to them, to comment, to discuss what’s been happening. And you know that team had lost six of seven. They did win in Minnesota earlier (last) week.
But you know the fact that they, they kind of eventually got, you know, when you’re in Tom Fitzgerald’s shoes, like he, I don’t know if you saw the entire conversation, but he got asked about his own job security. He got asked about Sheldon Keefe, job security. I know Sheldon has been previously asked about that. I mean, when people are asking for about your job, it is, I know that obviously the GM can’t control that, or the coach can’t control what the questions are, but it’s a reflection of how the feeling is around the team. That you know the fans, I think are, you know, reasonably up in arms with the Devils. And, you know, they wanted someone to speak to it.
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So I think I’m kind of more, he might not have had as much of a money quote. There’s not like one quote we put on a board right now and say, ‘This is what he said.’ But just that he had to speak and do it the way they did with, you know, kind of 10 or 15 reporters, whatever it was, in a room. And, you know, have a really long session that included a lot of different topics. You know, I think it’s a reflection of where the Devils are.
And, you know, the interesting part for me is Fitzgerald made it clear he thinks they can make the playoffs still, and he’s not ready to wave any white flags or signal any changes.
And so, you know, it does make the point I made on our previous show that, I think in the short term, the Devils absolutely are trying to move Ondrej Palat. Looking for another home for Dougie Hamilton, in part to create the cat space they need, then to augment their forward group.
So, you know, that’s a fair amount of work to get done. I think they’re in a tough spot to move those players. But they also, were you going to, they have to create cap room somehow. And so I think, I think he’s under more pressure than, than Jim Rutherford is.
You know, I do think the Canucks being open for business. They have to be smart about what they do, obviously. But they have, mean, you or I could trade Kiefer Sherwood, I can assure you. I mean, I’m just saying he’s, he’s a huge commodity in the league for an in-season trade, given his performance. Given his cap hit. Given, you know, he’s got a great reputation. Just everything about him is, there’s lots of teams out there that want him, it’s a matter of obviously trying to handle the market the right way and get the best return if you’re the Canucks.
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And you know, they have other players similar that are probably easier to trade, whereas the Devils are a little bit up against it between the various no-movement clauses and no-trade clauses they’re navigating. Their cap situation. Some of the guys that they’re looking to move are just not performing anywhere near their contract values. And they’re trying to get better at the same time, because they’re still trying to get in the playoffs.
So I think it’s a tougher lift in the short-term for Fitzgerald, because he’s, he’s trying to build a winner. Whereas the Canucks are, I mean, they didn’t call it this, but I’ll use my words like they, they’re rolling out the tank commanders, right? Like they’re, they’re about stripping down. And the stripping down part usually is the easy part of a rebuild. It’s, it’s the building back up that, that gets challenging.
But, you know, trading good players away for futures is the name of the game this time of year. So I think Vancouver is going to get active and soon, you know, just based on those comments.
You know, I’ll reiterate a point I did make on the previous show as well, for those didn’t hear. I think we’re going to see some action here before we get to February 5th, with, when the Olympic trade freeze kicks in. I just, it really feels like that the amount of talk on the league has picked up. I think there’s a little more urgency in some situations. And so I think we’re going to get at least the small amount of moves. But you know, in the next call it, three weeks, and then obviously it paused for the Olympics, and then it’s a two-week sprint to the trade deadline.
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So, you know, this is, this is a pretty fascinating time. And then Vancouver is a place I’ve looked to for those moves to start. New Jersey would like to get in on the action, but doesn’t sound like Tom Fitzgerald has a whole lot on the go right now, in terms of, you know, active wires, where, you know, he’s close to making a deal.”
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