In a separate move, New Jersey sent goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to the San Jose Sharks for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Toffoli, 30, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and knows how to put the puck in the net. He has 207 goals and 466 points in 733 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, and Flames.
The Devils hope Toffoli can help them take the next step in their rebuild. New Jersey was eliminated in the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs, and the Devils are hoping Toffoli will provide another veteran goal voice in the room.
Toffoli will earn $3.5 million during the final year of his contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2023-24 season.
Sharangovich, 24, is a promising young center with 20 goals and 21 assists in 67 games with the Devils last season. He is in the final year of a three-year deal and is eligible to become a restricted free agent after the 2023-2024 NHL season.
The third-round pick that the Devils are sending to the Flames is their own pick. The pick is currently ranked 80th overall.
Analysis of the Trade
The Devils didn’t up a lot to acquire Toffoli, but he is a proven goalscorer who could help them take the next step in their rebuild. Sharangovich is a promising young center, but he is still a few years away from reaching his full potential, and Toffoli is certainly an upgrade at a similar price. Giving up Sharangovich and a third-round pick is a relatively low price to pay for what a player like Toffoli brings to the table.
Big Win for New Jersey
Imagine seeing these 20+ goal scorers in opposing jerseys.
- Jack Hughes
- Timo Meier
- Jesper Bratt
- Nico Hischier
- Ondrej Palet
- Doogie Hamilton
- Dawson Mercer
- Tyler Toffoli
Toffoli should also help a power play unit that finished the regular season with a 13th-best 16.9% success rate with a man advantage. Toffoli potted a career-high 10 power-play goals for the Flames, with 57 over his career.
The trade is a win for New Jersey. They add another proven scorer to a roster filled with players who light the lamp on the regular. If it doesn’t work out, then no harm, no foul. But the upside of adding another big stick to a lineup that finished fourth in scoring during the regular season is well worth the risk.
Devils Trade Goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to San Jose Sharks
In a quieter move, the Devils traded goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to the San Jose Sharks for a sixth-round pick in Wednesday’s NHL Draft. Blackwood initially showed promise but has struggled over the last few seasons. The Devils’ second-round choice in the 2015 Draft ended his Devils tenure with a 2.97 GAA and 90% save percentage with eight career shutouts over 152 games with New Jersey.
New Jersey Devils Futures Odds
The Devils are +1000 to win the Stanley Cup and +600 to win the Eastern Conference. Those are decent prices for these bets but does Toffoli put the Devils over the top in a highly competitive Eastern Conference. That I am not so sure about.
Toffoli is a goal scorer and something New Jersey has an abundance of. The Devils power-play was mediocre during the regular season and even worse during its two playoff rounds. Toffoli will definitely help with this and the Devils power-play unit should benefit from his presence.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are loaded and rivals like the disappointed New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes will be making moves when the free-agency period begins July 1. New Jersey will likely make additional moves as well and if they can get another defenseman, the Devils could be a good bet to win the 2023-2024 Stanley Cup.
Finally, the Devils will be in the thick of things and +1000 to hoist the Cup and +600 to win the Eastern Conference are probably the best prices you’ll ever get for these markets. New Jersey will be competitive in the top-heavy East and if Future bets are your thing, and you can wait an entire year for the payout, then both bets are good to make.
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