The New Jersey Devils have the 10th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and the pick could be tradeable.
The New Jersey Devils have the 10th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and the pick could be tradeable.
The New Jersey Devils have the 10th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and the pick could be tradeable.
Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald spoke to NHL.com's Mike Morreale and, during their conversation, he mentioned that the 10th pick could be up for grabs if they feel the right deal comes their way.
"If we feel it helps us now and in the foreseeable future, then, yes, I'm listening," New Jersey general manager Tom Fitzgerald told NHL.com on Monday during a break from interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine. "I haven't gotten anything yet but the more I talk to teams, I say 'Listen, I'm open to moving No. 10, but it's going to have to be something (significant).'"
That something significant is likely a goaltender.
"I'm in the goalie market talking to teams, but there's a 'but' and the 'but' is how do we want to build our team?" Fitzgerald said. "We'd like to add up front, we'd like to add on the back end, so what are those pieces going to cost us. With the goaltending, what's that going to cost us? Does the No. 10 pick get you that type of player that you can add to the group. It's easy to say, 'Go get so-and-so and then you build from there.' But there are some guys who have different contracts so how are those players going to reprice at. There's a lot to it, but, yes, the focus is on finding that goaltender."
Jake Allen did his job after coming over from the Montreal Canadiens. He posted a .900SV% and a 3.11GAA in 13 games but it wasn't enough to help the Devils turn their season around. Fitzgerald has long talked about a goaltender who can take over the crease and allow the team to know the level of play they'll be receiving from their netminder. With heavy links to Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark, the Devils could explore those options with the 10th pick.
The Devils haven't been afraid to move first-round picks for deals they like. Timo Meier is the most recent example as he was acquired for a first-round pick plus other assets. The Devils have also been patient and used their first round picks to select Simon Nemec (2022), Luke Hughes (2021), Alexander Holtz (2020) and Jack Hughes (2019).
The draft is set to take place in Vegas on June 28 and 29 and it could be a franchise-altering couple of days for the New Jersey Devils.
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