On Tuesday afternoon, the New Jersey Devils [https://t.co/4eUmpe8zOo] were involved in a three-team trade with the Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers] and Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins]. Apr 11, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Denver Pioneers defenseman Zeev Buium (28) and Boston University Terriers forward Shane Lachance (18) compete for the puck during the first period in the semifinals of the 2024 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1af399c0-38c7-414e-8a4b-413aeade0368.jpeg] Apr 11, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Denver Pioneers defenseman Zeev Buium (28) and Boston University Terriers forward Shane Lachance (18) compete for the puck during the first period in the semifinals of the 2024 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images The breakdown of the trade is as follows: Trade 1: Boston Bruins trade Trent Frederic (50% salary retained) to New Jersey Devils in exchange for unsigned draft choice Petr Hauser. Trade 2: New Jersey trades Trent Frederic (50% salary retained) to Edmonton in exchange for unsigned draft choice Shane Lachance. Trade 3: Boston trades Max Jones and unsigned draft choice Petr Hauser to Edmonton in exchange for Max Wanner, St. Louis' second-round pick in 2025 (owned by Edmonton), and Edmonton's own fourth-round selection in 2026. Lachance, 21, was a fifth-round pick, 186th overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft. He is in his second season with Boston University (Hockey East) at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level. He is a teammate of goaltender Mikhail Yegorov, who was selected by New Jersey 49th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. That, of course, is not his only connection to the Devils. Ex-Devil winger Jay Pandolfo is the head coach of the Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey team, and Lachance's father, Scott, is currently the Devils' Head of U.S. Scouting. It is safe to say the organization is familiar with the 6-foot-5, 220-pound winger who has 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 32 games this season. Lachance remains unsigned, and there is no timetable for when the 21-year-old will turn pro, but one can already understand where he could fit in the Devils lineup. It is no secret that New Jersey has been searching for a left winger, preferably one to play alongside Jack Hughes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/devils-q-a-5-random-questions-with-jack-hughes], 23. Established players that would be desirable, like Brady Tkachuk, will come with an expensive price tag. Perhaps after scouring the trade market, the Devils went in a different direction and found a player who, over time, could fill that hole in the lineup. At his age, Lachance's size is already comparable to Brady Tkachuk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/matthew-and-brady-tkachuk-make-appearance-on-new-heights-podcast-with-kelce-brothers], who is listed as 6-foot-4, 225 lb. One could argue the college sophomore has yet to reach his maximum physical potential. Lachance is familiar with playing with high-end talent, as he was on a line with center Macklin Celebrini before he began his professional career with the San Jose Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks]. In July 2024, Pandolfo did an interview with NHL.com [https://www.nhl.com/news/shane-lachance-looking-to-chart-own-path-to-nhl-with-edmonton-oilers] and shared some insight into Lachance with independent correspondent Gerry Moddejonge. "He is a very intelligent hockey player," Pandolfo said of Lachance. "He understands his identity as a player and what makes him successful. He is a big body, he understands how to use his size, and that he needs to be strong on the puck and on the walls. He needs to make sure he gets to the net. "And he is intelligent. He has a high hockey IQ where he can really play with anyone in your lineup," Pandolfo continued. "We saw that this year. We used him in all sorts of different roles, and toward the end, obviously found his way to play on the top line with the best player in college hockey. He fit in really nicely because he has the hockey IQ to play with him." The thing with hockey trades is that, in some cases, it takes time to figure out if it was a successful move. Suppose Lachance can develop over the next couple of years into a winger who can successfully play with Hughes and fill that void. In that case, general manager Tom Fitzgerald could look brilliant, as it cost very little to acquire the Andover, Massachusetts native. Is it a move that can help the Devils' current situation? No. Is it a move that can pay off dividends in a few years? Time will tell. What is known is that Fitzgerald made a low-risk move that could potentially solve one of New Jersey's biggest problems.
