On Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils traded Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and Etienne Morin. 

When the idea of trading Nemec first started to surface, most thought he would be a part of a package that brought in an NHL player of consequence. This trade, however, is a futures trade for a defenseman who has shown potential in the NHL. 

For the New Jersey Devils, a franchise with a core in its prime, the idea of them making this trade seems strange. However, there is the chance that this is a deal that has more to it. Now, New Jersey holds multiple extra first-round picks in upcoming drafts. 

Those selections could be used as trade bait to get the player that they believe will help them win. 

Whether that is prying Quinn Hughes away from the Minnesota Wild, adding a veteran forward who can play in their top six, or working their way towards a goalie who will be more impactful than anyone currently on their roster, there are newfound possibilities following this Nemec deal. 

We have seen star players go for high-end draft picks a lot in recent months. The latest example was the Brady Tkachuk trade that took place on Sunday night. Now, New Jersey is much more equipped to make a move like that due to the extra draft capital that they acquired. 

The Devils made themselves a "team to watch" for the rest of the week leading into the draft as a result of this move. It will be looked at as a failure of a trade if they sit on these picks, but moving them for notable help would be an incredibly endearing way for Sunny Mehta to begin his tenure as the person in charge. 

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