The New York Islanders have acquired Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils for 2021 1st round pick, A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst and a conditional 2022 4th round pick.
The Devils are retaining 50 percent of Palmieri and Zajac’s salaries.
Pierre LeBrun: Condition: “Isles make SCF- 4th becomes 3rd in 2022 or 2023; New York has the option to decide on which of the 3rd round picks they transfer.”
Amanda Stein: Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald on having to ask Zajac to waive his no-trade clause: “If Travis wanted to continue to play and not make the playoffs, that was his right to stay. But I know he’s a hungry professional wants a chance to win a Cup and this may be the year he does.”
Thoughts from the media
Corey Masisak: “A.J. Greer (24) and Mason Jobst (26) are both older players with Bridgeport in the AHL. Greer hasn’t played in the NHL since 2018-19, and Jobst has not played in the NHL. The two picks are obviously the main assets in this deal for the Devils.”
Pierre LeBrun: “First big deal of deadline week. Palmieri to the Isles always made sense. Lamoriello obviously knows Zajac well. Isles loading up.”
Renaud Lavoie: “Travis Zajac didn’t want to lift his no-move clause to go to the @NYIslanders last year. Fact that he’s UFA at the end of this season is obviously one of the reason he agreed to a trade.”
Anthony Petrielli: “Isles are tied for 6th in points percentage, have a +28 goal differential and are 3rd in xGF% at 5v5. They should be going for it, Kyle Palmieri is really good and it’s always nice to add C depth. It’s basically a 1st as the rest are spare parts. Not a horrible price to pay.”
