The New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald will probably never reveal the truth, but the season-ending injury to Jack Hughes may have changed his strategy going into the trade deadline. The Devils are currently holding on to third place in the Metropolitan Division with defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler also out for an extended period. The Devils did bolster the backend by acquiring Dennis Cholowski from the New York Islanders and Brian Dumoulin from the Anaheim Ducks.
Up-front, the Devils brought in two regulars, Cody Glass from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Daniel Sprong from the Seattle Kraken, plus a couple of prospects. In return for these upgrades, the Islanders traded 3 draft picks and 5 prospects including Chase Stillman who NHL.com had ranked as the Islanders #4 ranked prospect in last summer’s ratings.
Fitzgerald did the right thing by adding to a team that has been solidly in a playoff spot all season but not going “all-in” due to the significant injury issues they will be facing the rest of the way.
Fitzgerald’s Final Grade: B+
NEW JERSEY DEVILS TRADE DEADLINE RECAP
Forwards the Devils traded:
Adam Beckman (AHL)
Max Graham (WHL)
Petr Hauser (Czech League)
Chase Stillman (AHL)
Herman Traff (Swedish Juniors)
Forwards the Devils acquired:
Cody Glass
Jonathan Gruden (AHL)
Shane LaChance (NCAA)
Daniel Sprong
Defensemen the Devils traded:
None
Defensemen the Devils acquired:
Dennis Cholowski
Brian Dumoulin
Draft Picks the Devils traded:
2025 2nd Round Pick (Islanders will send to Anaheim the better of Edmonton or Winnipeg’s 2nd round picks)
2025 7th Round Pick
2027 3rd Round Pick
Draft Picks the Devils acquired:
None
