Post by jimbob (Devils GM) on Mar 13, 2013 20:24:41 GMT -5
The New Jersey Devils are starting to feel very good about this up and coming season.Just a few short days ago, they traded Travis Zajac to the L.A Kings for Anze Kopitar, Simon Gagne, Alec Martinez, and up and coming prospect Jordan Weal. Zajac has not be playing up to par as of lately with scoring only 16 goals on the season with a total of 48 points. The mind-blowing stat though is a -23 for a player that was looked at as a very good two way player.
So the President , Lou Lamoriello and the general manager started taking calls about the availabilty of Travis Zajac. They had alot of offers but the most intriguing offers were from the L.A Kings. Kings Gm Hades had sent Lamoriello a few different scenarios that they could offer to retain Zajacs services. Lamoriello immediately talked these offers over with his general manager. Lou Lamoriello stated " This is a deal that we could not pass up on. We wish Travis the best of luck in L.A but the Devils are turning a new page in their history books".
They came to the assessment that Kopitar would be able to fill in for Travis Zajacs role with the club very quickly. Simon Gagne could bring some much needed leadership to the club and all the while getting a good defensemen with Alec Martinez. The Devils also received Jordan Weal in the deal. Lou Lamoriello said
"Weal, a right-handed shooting center, is revered for his tenacity on the forecheck and for creating turnovers in the offensive zone. He will fit into the Devils trap system perfectly"
Anze Kopitar will be playing like he is under a microscope this season because there will be alot of Zajac fans that will be missing him and will keep looking at Kopitar to make sure he is performing up to par. This morning Kopitar said " trades don't ever make a player happy but, i am happy to play for an organization like the Devils and can not wait to get out on the ice to show the fans what i can bring to the table."
So we will see if this trade pays off the way that Lamoriello hopes it will or it could be a season of alot of questions with no answers.
Devils star player Ilya Kovalchuk had few words to say about the trade, " i can not wait to be playing with an elite center of the NHL like Anze. He has very skilled hands and great vision out there on the ice. And adding Martinez and veteran player Gagne is always an added plus."