NHL Trade Rumors: Devils & Wild Could Become Offseason Trade Partners
The New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild are two teams to watch this offseason.
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald recently came out and admitted he's looking to make a move early on this summer to find another goaltender to pair with Jake Allen and mentioned he'd go as far as moving the #10 overall pick to do so.
Meanwhile the Wild and GM Bill Guerin are looking to create some more cap flexibility so they can add some more depth up front and on the blue line. Turns out they could have a goaltender that would make sense for the Devils to consider.
Filip Gustavsson continues to be mentioned as a prime trade candidate out of Minnesota, as the team re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury and have Jesper Wallstedt waiting in the wings for NHL playing time next season. Gustavsson is coming off a down year, however two seasons ago was among the league leaders in save percentage, posting a .931. He has two seasons left on his current contract at $3.75 million annually and does not own any trade protection.
The Devils and Fitzgerald enter the offseason with $18.8 million to work with and a new head coach in Sheldon Keefe. The Devils have a couple of young netminders in Akira Schmid and Nico Daws who could be included in the trade as Minnesota knows this is likely Fleury's last season.
While it won't take the #10 pick to get Gustavsson from the Wild, these trade talks could materialize into something bigger, which could leave the first-rounder on the table. Fitzgerald recently admitted he's talking trade on three goalies at the moment, so it's likely these two teams have already been in contact.
Photo credit : Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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