Brad Ratgen: Wild's Zidlicky to New Jersey Devils. Back to the Future. A trade, a trade!

Wow!!!!! All that for Zidlicky........What is Uncle Lou thinking.

Palmieri will only be a third liner at best. He has size and grit but his puck handling is awful, shot is eh, speed average, average balance. Your future will be in the draft picks

Its kinda meh.

Injury prone guy in Marek with a so-so cap hit for another year

For


Fringe roster players..bottom 6 at best and a 2nd rounder


I think Minny wins out in the end but just for the fact they got some picks

Its kinda meh.

Injury prone guy in Marek with a so-so cap hit for another year

For


Fringe roster players..bottom 6 at best and a 2nd rounder


I think Minny wins out in the end but just for the fact they got some picks
- HotSauceBlueChs

Nailed it.

The Devils can easily replace Veilliex and Palmieri in the FA market, easily, they aren't anything special. Zidlicky replaces what Foster brought.

Wow!!!!! All that for Zidlicky........What is Uncle Lou thinking.
- yttrohs

I was thinking the same thing.......

Wild did marvelous on this trade. Even if they didn't get but Palmieri and the two picks I still love it. Foster and Veilleux are whatever players, but who cares.

Wild have to be up to something more to add all these (albeit not superstars) players.

Even if none of them are overwhelming talents, the Wild still got 4-5 bodies in exchange for one guy who only has 14 assists this year.

My first reaction - we got a couple serviceable NHL guys that won't matter much, a couple of picks, got rid of a guy who doesn't want to be here, and freed up $4M in cap space next year. The last three make it a good deal for the Wild.

In Foster, the Wild get a defenseman who has a good shot and, at least when he was here, seemed to do a pretty good job getting pucks to the net, which we need. I can see him playing a 5-6 role and playing the power play.

Veilleux was always a hard worker and can probably be a solid 3rd/4th liner for the rest of the year here.

I'm not sure either of them get a contract for next year.

I don't know anything about Palmieri, so can't really say what we've got there.

2nd and a 3rd are nice to get, too. Fletcher and his staff have done a pretty good job drafting and swinging draft-day deals to move up to get guys they want. So, its good to see him get a few more picks to work with.

Not a bad deal for New Jersey either. Zidlicky isn't that bad of a player - has some very good aspects to his game and then a couple that have you shaking your head. But he could do well with the Devils. All in all, not a bad deal for either side.

Even if none of them are overwhelming talents, the Wild still got 4-5 bodies in exchange for one guy who only has 14 assists this year.
- mojo1016

Kind of rolling the dice that at least one will work out.

If even one of the 3 bodies they got equals Zidlicky on the ice, then Minnesota wins this deal.

Actually he didn't do much and wanted to be out. Give it to Minnesota for getting rid of him.

My first reaction - we got a couple serviceable NHL guys that won't matter much, a couple of picks, got rid of a guy who doesn't want to be here, and freed up $4M in cap space next year. The last three make it a good deal for the Wild.

In Foster, the Wild get a defenseman who has a good shot and, at least when he was here, seemed to do a pretty good job getting pucks to the net, which we need. I can see him playing a 5-6 role and playing the power play.

Veilleux was always a hard worker and can probably be a solid 3rd/4th liner for the rest of the year here.

I'm not sure either of them get a contract for next year.

I don't know anything about Palmieri, so can't really say what we've got there.

2nd and a 3rd are nice to get, too. Fletcher and his staff have done a pretty good job drafting and swinging draft-day deals to move up to get guys they want. So, its good to see him get a few more picks to work with.

Not a bad deal for New Jersey either. Zidlicky isn't that bad of a player - has some very good aspects to his game and then a couple that have you shaking your head. But he could do well with the Devils. All in all, not a bad deal for either side.
- Chinaski

I think the 3rd round pick is only if the Devils make the Eastern Conference Finals (unlikely IMO, but I'll be cheering for them now).

It might be possible the Lou was looking to dump a few contracts also here. Not sure how close they were to the 50 total but he might have something else in the works.

It might be possible the Lou was looking to dump a few contracts also here. Not sure how close they were to the 50 total but he might have something else in the works.
- Greatlakeswimmer

He is out of money per the TSN gang.

I think the 3rd round pick is only if the Devils make the Eastern Conference Finals (unlikely IMO, but I'll be cheering for them now).
- Brad Ratgen

Yes, I believe you're correct. Let's hope they make it.

According to CapGeek, $20.1 million in cap space with 9 roster spots left to fill. 7 RFA's, and only Latendresse makes over $1 million. I like their position to go hard after a couple top UFAs (if they make it to July 1) and fill in the rest with some prospects and some of the restricted guys.

I think the 3rd round pick is only if the Devils make the Eastern Conference Finals (unlikely IMO, but I'll be cheering for them now).
- Brad Ratgen

YES!! we have more fans too bad I agree with you about the conference finals

My first reaction - we got a couple serviceable NHL guys that won't matter much, a couple of picks, got rid of a guy who doesn't want to be here, and freed up $4M in cap space next year. The last three make it a good deal for the Wild.

In Foster, the Wild get a defenseman who has a good shot and, at least when he was here, seemed to do a pretty good job getting pucks to the net, which we need. I can see him playing a 5-6 role and playing the power play.

Veilleux was always a hard worker and can probably be a solid 3rd/4th liner for the rest of the year here.

I'm not sure either of them get a contract for next year.

I don't know anything about Palmieri, so can't really say what we've got there.

2nd and a 3rd are nice to get, too. Fletcher and his staff have done a pretty good job drafting and swinging draft-day deals to move up to get guys they want. So, its good to see him get a few more picks to work with.

Not a bad deal for New Jersey either. Zidlicky isn't that bad of a player - has some very good aspects to his game and then a couple that have you shaking your head. But he could do well with the Devils. All in all, not a bad deal for either side.
- Chinaski

You guys did good. Definitely a 2nd rder and maybe a 3rd too (probably not though) and you get two players who can fill in now (foster and Veilleux) and Palmieri, who could be good. Last year he played with Kovy and Zajac on the Devils top line (Parise was hurt) and looked preety good. Beginning of the year some Devils fans thought he could be a top 6 forward. Unfortunately he started off slow this year and look "lost" out there with Kovy. Bounced around on all 4 lines before being sent down. He's a nice kid and a hard worker. He does have some scoring skills (like we saw last year and in the minors) but needs to improve his skating/balance. I hope he turns out good for you guys because he's a good kid.

In a trade deadline scenario where overpaying is the norm, i can live with this trade.

Veilluex and Palmieri weren't roster players in NJ, and the thought is that Zidlicky is a replacement for Foster.

The 2nd round pick was the prize of the trade, and I hope the Wild pick up the conditional 3rd, but we'll see how that pans out.

I like some facets of Palmolive's game, and if he can round out his game he could be an effective player. He is still young, and he is coming from an organization that preaches two way hockey, so he should fit in well with the Wild.

As far as Zidlicky, I haven't seen a ton of him as he has been in the West, but based on what I've been reading, its a steal if we get the guy that puts up 40+ points, or a bust if we get the guy that only has 14 points and is on the decline. I guess we'll find out real soon, which is the case.

As far as Zidlicky, I haven't seen a ton of him as he has been in the West, but based on what I've been reading, its a steal if we get the guy that puts up 40+ points, or a bust if we get the guy that only has 14 points and is on the decline. I guess we'll find out real soon, which is the case.
- WayneZ

I don't think Zidlicky's lack of production can be solely put on him. The Wild are not a highly skilled offensive team and Spurgeon is the only defenseman they have with more points (7 more points in 18 more games). No other Wild defenseman even has 10 points. And the power play, where he is supposed to thrive, is beyond bad in Minnesota. In my opinion, Zidlicky's low point totals are more an indictment of the offensive ability of the Wild as a whole instead of a clear indication that his offensive abilities are in decline.

What you get with him is a guy that can skate, move the puck, and does have a very good shot, although he seemed to be reluctant to shoot this year. I always liked his compete level. He's not a very physical defenseman, but he always seemed willing to battle.

As the Preds fans warned us when we got him, he will do things defensively that will just baffle you, i.e., he doesn't make the best decisions with the puck under pressure. But paired up with the right partner, I think he will provide the Devils with more good than bad. It may allow him to activate into the offense a little more than he could here. And the Devils have enough skill up front where Zidlicky is likely to be more of a complement than a detriment.

From Lou's standpoint, it didn't cost him a whole lot to get a guy that could be very good for the Devils. He traded two ham sandwiches for a roast beef, not the whole pig.

Definitely a good deal for the wild.... Zidlicky played his way out of town, said he wanted to waive NTC to go to Jersey, I think Wild got the best possible deal. Foster isnt that much of a step down, Veilliux is a fourth liner, both played for the wild before, which is a bit of a bonus. Palmieri has heart and could be a third liner if it works out, plus a second and conditional third for a crybaby d-man with zero goals this year. Overall, good quality deal.

Overall, both teams won.

Zidlicky fits the Devils needs, and nothing the Devils gave up really hurts them in the long run or in the short run.

We only gave up one roster player, Foster, who Zidlicky replaces. Palmieri had trouble this year, he could be a solid third liner if his game progresses. Veillieux is a borderline NHL player at this point, he could play the fourth line for you guys without being a liability.

What the Devils gave up, except for the second, doesn't really hurt us. If we make the ECF, I will give up that 3rd round pick every day of the week.

Zidlicky has potential to be a 40 point d-man, like he has done with the Wild and the Predators. He has produced 14 points while being disliked by Yeo and being benched quite often.

Think Heatley goes at the deadline?

Think Heatley goes at the deadline?
- Jack-artist

Nope. I'd say his contract makes it a little tough to move him but I wouldn't suspect Fletcher is looking to deal Heatley. He's been one of, if not the best, Wild forward this season and he's about the only guy who actually scores goals.

Nope. I'd say his contract makes it a little tough to move him but I wouldn't suspect Fletcher is looking to deal Heatley. He's been one of, if not the best, Wild forward this season and he's about the only guy who actually scores goals.
- Chinaski

I honestly never heard any rumour of him being shopped, just wondering where he fits in to future plans. Unless you can get some good assets for him, he should stay. A team needs good players, and he seems to mesh well in Minny.

GO DEVILS! Minny really needs more pics. Like this deal!

GO DEVILS! Minny really needs more pics. Like this deal!