New Jersey Devils acquire Curtis Lazar

The veteran forward will provide some depth, and insurance, as the Devils gear up for the playoffs.

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Having already landed the best player on the market, Timo Meier, in the lead-up to the trade deadline, the expectation was that GM Tom Fitzgerald would be quiet on Friday. That certainly proved the case.

Fitzgerald made just one move, acquiring veteran forward Curtis Lazar from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2024.

Lazar is a sturdy 4th liner whose best trait is his work ethic. He leaves it all on the ice every shift and will do whatever it takes to help his team; even if it means putting his body through hell.

Among 412 forwards to log at least 300 minutes at 5v5 this season, Lazar ranks 26th in hits per minute.

Zach MacEwan, Milan Lucic, Brady Tkachuk, Brandon Tanev, and many of the league’s most prominent hitters rank below him in terms of efficiency. The guy hits everything that moves.

Thankfully, Lazar is not somebody who plays a physical game but provides nothing of substance. He is a competent defensive player whose impacts in that area are generally strong at evens.