New Jersey Devils trade deadline breakdown

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The 2022 NHL trade deadline is officially in the rearview. While there was quite a bit of action league-wide, the New Jersey Devils mostly opted to sit on the sidelines.

I have plenty of thoughts on what the Devils did, and didn’t do, on one of the busiest days of the NHL calendar. Let’s dig in.

On the Andrew Hammond trade

This was not a sexy addition but it was a necessary one. Andrew Hammond has generally posted solid AHL numbers over the years and played well when given a chance at the NHL level.

Hammond carries himself with the sort of calming influence, and swagger, that can give the team confidence. That’s exactly what the Devils need.

As Tom Fitzgerald hinted at when discussing the trade, the Devils aren’t looking for a world beater in net. They just want someone who can give the team decent enough goaltending that the players feel they can play their game without worrying every single mistake is going to end up in the back of the net.

That has been an issue all season long, with only the expansion Seattle Kraken dealing with worse goaltending at 5v5.

Hammond should be able to provide a spark and allow the Devils to stay in games they deserve to be in down the stretch. He’ll also help shelter Nico Daws, preventing him from being put in a situation where too much is put on his plate.

As for the cost? There wasn’t really one. Nate Schnarr is a solid AHL player but I don’t see much of an NHL future. If he makes it at all, it’s probably as nothing more than a rotational 4th liner. Moving him should be non-consequential.