The intrigue of the Recent Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston, when asked in regards to the Recent Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks, where they might be heading, and what situation intrigues him more.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Johnston: “Probably Recent Jersey simply because, you realize, there’s been a lot pressure constructing in that market. And a whole lot of pressure, specifically from the local reporters attempting to get Tom Fitzgerald to refer to them, to comment, to debate what’s been happening. And you realize that team had lost six of seven. They did win in Minnesota earlier (last) week.
But you realize the indisputable fact that they, they type of eventually got, you realize, once you’re in Tom Fitzgerald’s shoes, like he, I don’t know should you saw all the conversation, but he got asked about his own job security. He got asked about Sheldon Keefe, job security. I do know Sheldon has been previously asked about that. I mean, when persons are asking for about your job, it’s, I do know that obviously the GM can’t control that, or the coach can’t control what the questions are, however it’s a mirrored image of how the sensation is across the team. That you realize the fans, I feel are, you realize, reasonably up in arms with the Devils. And, you realize, they wanted someone to talk to it.
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So I feel I’m type of more, he may not have had as much of a money quote. There’s not like one quote we placed on a board at once and say, ‘That is what he said.’ But just that he needed to speak and do it the best way they did with, you realize, type of 10 or 15 reporters, whatever it was, in a room. And, you realize, have a very long session that included a whole lot of different topics. You realize, I feel it’s a mirrored image of where the Devils are.
And, you realize, the interesting part for me is Fitzgerald made it clear he thinks they’ll make the playoffs still, and he’s not able to wave any white flags or signal any changes.
And so, you realize, it does make the purpose I made on our previous show that, I feel within the short term, the Devils absolutely try to maneuver Ondrej Palat. Searching for one other home for Dougie Hamilton, partially to create the cat space they need, then to reinforce their forward group.
So, you realize, that’s a good amount of labor to get done. I feel they’re in a tricky spot to maneuver those players. But additionally they, were you going to, they must create cap room one way or the other. And so I feel, I feel he’s under more pressure than, than Jim Rutherford is.
You realize, I do think the Canucks being open for business. They must be smart about what they do, obviously. But they’ve, mean, you or I could trade Kiefer Sherwood, I can assure you. I mean, I’m just saying he’s, he’s an enormous commodity within the league for an in-season trade, given his performance. Given his cap hit. Given, you realize, he’s got an ideal repute. Just all the pieces about him is, there’s plenty of teams on the market that want him, it’s a matter of obviously attempting to handle the market the precise way and get the perfect return should you’re the Canucks.
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And you realize, they produce other players similar which are probably easier to trade, whereas the Devils are just a little bit up against it between the assorted no-movement clauses and no-trade clauses they’re navigating. Their cap situation. Among the guys that they’re trying to move are only not performing anywhere near their contract values. And so they’re attempting to get well at the identical time, because they’re still attempting to get within the playoffs.
So I feel it’s a tougher lift within the short-term for Fitzgerald, because he’s, he’s attempting to construct a winner. Whereas the Canucks are, I mean, they didn’t call it this, but I’ll use my words like they, they’re rolling out the tank commanders, right? Like they’re, they’re about stripping down. And the stripping down part normally is the straightforward a part of a rebuild. It’s, it’s the constructing back up that, that gets difficult.
But, you realize, trading good players away for futures is the secret this time of 12 months. So I feel Vancouver goes to get lively and shortly, you realize, just based on those comments.
You realize, I’ll reiterate some extent I did make on the previous show as well, for those didn’t hear. I feel we’re going to see some motion here before we get to February fifth, with, when the Olympic trade freeze kicks in. I just, it really seems like that the quantity of talk on the league has picked up. I feel there’s just a little more urgency in some situations. And so I feel we’re going to get no less than the small amount of moves. But you realize, in the following call it, three weeks, after which obviously it paused for the Olympics, after which it’s a two-week sprint to the trade deadline.
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So, you realize, that is, it is a pretty fascinating time. After which Vancouver is a spot I’ve looked to for those moves to begin. Recent Jersey would love to get in on the motion, but doesn’t sound like Tom Fitzgerald has an entire lot on the go at once, by way of, you realize, lively wires, where, you realize, he’s close to creating a deal.”
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