On the possibility of trading the 2nd overall pick

According to reports, the Devils are open to moving it for the right player.

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New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald started the off-season by saying he’s open to moving the team’s first round pick for the right piece.

When the Devils won the draft lottery (again!), many wondered if Fitzgerald’s tune might change.

That doesn’t appear to be the case. While Fitzgerald isn’t looking to trade the 2nd overall pick, he is still willing to move it.

Jim Biringer @JimBiringer

Per Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines Devils are still open to moving the pick, Fitzgerald will meet in the next couple of weeks with his staff to make a list of players he would only move it for. Also Devils open for business. #njdevils

So, there is – or soon will be – a short list of players the Devils would table the pick for.

This is just speculation on my part but I’d have to imagine Matthew Tkachuk will sit at the very top of it. The 24-year-old winger is coming off a 40+ goal, 100+ point season with the Calgary Flames.

He is one of the best below the dots players in the league, he plays a gritty, hard-nosed game that not many (any?) Devils do…and he’s Fitzgerald’s cousin.

Tkachuk legitimately checks every box Fitzgerald could hope for in terms of ability, production, team need, and age. He’d fit in perfectly with the core long-term.

The problem: he no doubt checks every box for the Flames as well. I know they’re heading for a cap crunch this summer with Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and Andrew Mangiapane all in line for new deals. I understand where the Tkachuk speculation comes from.

But, generally speaking, you don’t trade 24-year-old 100 point players to make room for others. You trade others to make room for a guy like Tkachuk. For that reason, I think it’s more likely than not he stays put.

The one potential wrench is Tkachuk’s personal agenda. If, for some reason, he really doesn’t want to remain in Calgary, and is going to hardball the Flames to the point where they’d rather cut the cord than give in, maybe something comes of it.

Fitzgerald would no doubt be standing around waving the 2nd overall pick – and perhaps more – in Brad Treliving’s face should that day come.