2024 NHL Draft Day Two: Devils Traded Away John Marino, Alexander Holtz, & Akira Schmid…Chaos

2024 NHL Draft Day Two: Devils Traded Away John Marino, Alexander Holtz, & Akira Schmid…Chaos

chaos is the word I would use to describe the anel draft because not only did the Devils make their selections they made a couple of big trades how do I feel about them we have a lot to break down in today’s episode of lock on Devils coming to you from the spear in Las Vegas Nevada buckle up everybody you’re locked on Devils your daily podcast on the New Jersey Devils part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hi this is Bryce Salvador and you’re locked on devil try Matthews scor oh Steven stepped up nailor got the puck what a shot the Devils win the Stanley Cup all righty now what is up New Jersey welcome back to the lockon Devils podcast here on lockon network I’m your host College hockey club play announcer delire for pug pitchforks and also parttime credential Mia member Trey Matthews back for the second and final day of the NHL draft hopefully you don’t hear too much of the post-draft commotion behind me we have quite the jam packed episode The Devils only had one selection last night they used their 10th overall pick to select Anton salv from Russia talked about him in the previous episode you would think the Devils would stay lowkey and just go through the motions in day numeral dose of the draft well I hope you didn’t bet those those odds because we are in Vegas a lot of movement at the spear involving key assets for the Devils Fitzy got to work in the first segment we’ll recap those two big trades that the devil’s made then in the second segment I will highlight some prospects that the Devils selected and I will play some sound bites from their media availability and then to close it out I will share my thoughts as to where the Devils go from here because the madness continues we had the Stanley Cup Final the NHL draft development campus right around the corner and free agency begins July 1st let’s recap these two trades that the Devils made the first one I like the other one not so much the Devils traded away John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club and a 2024 fifth round pick in exchange for Utah’s 2024 second round pick and a 2025 second round pick as we all know Marino has been on the trade block for the last couple days he had a modified no trade clause that kicked in July 1st and the Devils had to trade him away ASAP because as we all know Fitzgerald has made it a point of emphasis that he wants to go big game hunting and I said the main concern that I had was that the Devils have a decent amount of players signed long term and Marino was one of them Marino is not a bad player but the Devils were in desperate need to revamp their blue line especially with fitel trying to get these bigname players come free agency and we’re just a couple days away he was owed $4.4 million for the next three seasons if I do the math that’s about $13.3 million freed up after the trade here are my thoughts I think it’s clear that the Devils have their eyes set on Brett pesi who is a pending UFA and I talked about him a couple days ago I said pesi is a solid defenseman he’s not really going to focus on offense he’s not the most physical guy but he knows where to position himself and I I’d say he was a decent asset for the Carolina Hurricanes and the thing is pesi has already taken a Team friendly deal with the hurricanes and in this free agent Market he knows that he’s due for a pay increase and I don’t think the hurricanes are going to be able to retain them due to the fact that they have a lot of other players that are in need of new contracts and it’s also reported that the devils are interested in Brendan Dylan who’s also set to become an unrestricted free agent this Monday we’ll see what happens but it’s clear that Fitzgerald need to get rid of some Finance in order to give himself more wiggle room so he can pursue peshi and Dylan come July 1 all right here’s the second trade that the devil’s made and I’m not really the biggest fan of it but I understand the direction that Fitzgerald was trying to go the Devils traded away Alexander Holtz Akira Schmid to the Vegas Golden Nights ironically we are in Vegas right now the mecca of gambling in exchange for Paul Cotter in Vegas’s 2025 third round pick all right before I talk about Cotter let’s talk about the two assets that the Devils had to sacrifice Alexander Holtz he’s been on the chopping block for the last couple years now we thought he was going to be involved in the Teemo Meyer trade we thought he might have to be included in some sort of package if the Devils were ser ious about getting a goalie Alexander Holz was not looked all that favorably by the organization Lindy Ruff didn’t really have too many nice things to say about him the same could be said for Tom Fitzgerald and I felt as though that Alexander Holtz was sometimes the scapegoat was he the best player out there no but I think he’s far from worse I’d say he’s a solid score and he can work on his Puck handling and his defense but he needs to make mistakes in order to improve that’s why his numbers are so much better in udica compared to his time with the Devils Ben Bernell who covers UDA comments came on this show and said that the reason why you see those stats inflate at the AHL is because Kevin Denine the head coach for the Comets gives Alexander Holtz a longer leash and that’s what I’ve been preaching which is you just got to be patient with Alexander Holtz I felt as though he had a lot of untapped potential but considering the fact that he still in the midst of his entrylevel contract he would have been one of the more easier assets to move on from Holtz played in all 82 games and he scored 16 goals and AK Kira Schmid we all know what he did in last year’s playoffs against the New York Rangers in round one yes he took a couple steps backwards but I don’t think that’s his fault I think the Devils sort of rushed him because they saw what he did in the playoffs and they’re like okay let’s run it back with VCH Vanek and Akira Schmid and unfortunately I think Schmid would have benefited if he marinated in the AHL just a tad bit longer but I can sort of see that as well because the Devils now have Jacob markstrom Jake Allen Nico Daws he also impressed in the few opportunities he was given I just think that Akira Schmid wasn’t gonna be given the opportunity that he once had and I guess you can use him in this sort of trade but for Paul Cotter I’m a little conflicted because I think if you involved Alexander Holtz and Aira Schmid in a different trade package I think you could have gotten way better because like I said Alexander Holtz has been rumored in trade discussions for the past couple seasons for teimo Meer or maybe a big name goalie or another big name asset and you get Paul CER and here’s the thing about cter he’s a big physical power forward played mostly third line but you sometimes saw him on the second line for Vegas last season he’s projected to be a mid to bottom six type of player he’s a solid asset this past season with Vegas he had 25 points seven goals 18 assists but let’s focus on some other tangibles shall we he had a Faceoff win percentage of 49.1% % and 233 hits obviously that is Miles wood and Michael mccloud’s replacement because the one thing that I’ve been talking about on this show the past couple weeks is that the Devils need to add more depth in terms of forwards because they missed the productivity of McLoud and also would players are not going to show up in the score sheet but aren’t afraid to play physical aren’t afraid to take the face offs aren’t afraid to work the corners basically you need that blue collar type of player and if the devils are good again I if we’re being realistic someone like Curtis McDermot he’s not going to suit up in most of the games Cotter I like his game I think the one thing he needs to focus on is being a little more consistent and maybe a change of scenery will help but for this trade in general I I don’t know I’m a little conflicted because yes you do get more depth in terms of forwards but on the other hand you gave up two decent assets Alexander Holtz and Aira Schmid two players who have not hit their primes two players who have a lot of untapped potential and you get a bottom six player but if we’re looking at his contract he has this season and next season remaining on his three-year $ 2.32 five million deal and he has an average annual value of $775,000 once again I understand the direction but I feel like the Devils could have gotten a lot more for Holtz and Schmid two players that have to improve in more ways than one but also two players who have showcased their potential a mundane a diamond in the rough we’ll see what happens but if Alexander Holtz couldn’t make it work in New Jersey I don’t know how Vegas is going to treat him I’m I’m a little perplexed by that we we’ll see how the golden knights utilize them but the one thing I could say for Holtz is that you just have to give him more chances to make mistakes so that way he can learn and grow from him because yes he did commit a lot of turnovers but everyone makes mistakes as long as you can learn from it redeem yourself and I just don’t think Holtz was given that chance but let me know what you think now before we continue with today’s episode and focus on the players that the devil’s selected in day two of the draft I want to tell you about FanDuel we are in the Mecca of sports gambling Sin City I love sports I love them so much I never want them to stop but as the playoffs wind down we get fewer games and the sports aren’t sportsing like I want them to but FanDuel lets me keep the sports going whenever I want all I have to do is open up the app and dream up bets anytime I’m in the mood and this summer FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily that’s right there’s something for everyone every day all summer long so head over to fanduel.com SL lockon and start making the most of your summer FanDuel the official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball visit fanduel.com to look at the odds and please remember to always gamble responsibly okay let’s focus on some draft prospects for the devils in day numeral dose of the NHL draft here in Las Vegas in the second round in which the devil got that pick from Utah due to the John Marino trade they selected mle jarov from the Omaha Lancers worth mentioning that he is the number one ranked North American goalie the Devils continue to find players that have a number one ranking because as we all know Anton salv was ranked number one among European skaters and now Jag gorov number one ranked goalie in North America we’ll see how that pans out but with Akira Schmid now gone you sort of have to find the next goalie in line to develop the devil selected two players in the third round but I will talk about them momentarily because I have their media availabilities that I want to share in today’s episode Max Graham and VT Loa I hope I’m pronouncing that correctly they were selected in the fifth round Matias malosi sixth round and let’s Circle back to the third round picks I just mentioned Casper p rhan and Herman trap were the two prospects selected in the third round p Ryan’s father actually played for the Devils back during the 200920 season for any of you die hard Devils fans he only appeared in about 30 games and he only racked up four points not really a memorable tenure with New Jersey but it’s still a feel-good moment that his son got selected by the team that he played with his boy Casper spoke to the media shortly after being selected by the Devils take a listen drafted by you know it’s awesome uh it’s a great organization you know my dad played for the team uh and it’s a dream come true yeah tell me what you remember uh I was so young I don’t remember like nothing I just saw a couple games by my dad but you know yeah not so much is your father here yeah he’s with me my whole famil is here how would you describe your game I’m a big Winger who likes to hit and make plays with the puck in the offensive zone did you have any conversations with the Devils you have an inkling that they might yeah we we we had some conversations in the combine and you know before the combine so yeah you got a feeling from them that they might be interested in your style of game yeah a little bit yeah a little bit now what are you looking at what areas have you improved most over the past year and what areas you looking to improve Hing in next year my skating has improved last years but I need to work on that still so my skating is still I need to work on that still you think two three years I think I’ll be ready to play in the NH NHL you say like a physical power forward type or yeah but I have Buck skills too yeah even someone that enjoys the engaging physicality yeah I assume team this is a team that’s looking to add some of that physicality you think that’s part of why they were attracted to you yeah I think that’s why yeah did you ever lived in North America when he was here yeah I liveed for for like one year in Jersey so yeah do you have memories of no I I don’t remember much no so you’re comfortable this in the area you know the yeah yeah a little bit yeah that’s a good to start yeah that’s a good thing yeah for sure you talked about what you need to work on what are goals you have this upcoming hockey season oh say again you talked about what you need to work on what are some of the goals you have this yeah uh of course the u20 uh World Championships uh and to play in the Liga the whole season for the TPS and get a rooll there you going to be at development Camp yeah yeah what did you learn about playing a little bit in league and the taste that you got there how much obviously you got to kind of you know the game is faster and guys are bigger but you know I like it yeah what was your Dad’s reaction when it was the devil no he left how are your games similar or different like how do you how does your game compare to what yeah I think the physicality it’s it’s uh we like both hitting but you know I think I’m better with the puck bragging right you get drafted higher than than he did he was a seven no I know one of the things that I think the Devils have been doing in this draft is that they’ve been selecting some players that might have some upside at the end of the day Herman tra from Sweden he was selected 91st overall by the organization he was ranked 25 among European skaters by NHL Central scouting so he kind of slipped in the draft if you want to view it that way tra also spoke to the media and here’s what he had to say about his overall game and development take a listen you heard your name called and be oranization uh it was sick uh I get Ghost bumps it was uh really happy and uh yeah I’m really glad to be a part of this organization did you have conversations with them at the combine maybe got an inkling that they might be interested in your game I’ll talk with him a little bit uh but not much much at all um so I wasn’t ready for it but uh I’m really really really happy and how would you describe your game some strengths some energy to improve B I would say I’m a big forward uh to play physical with a lot of skills H try to take the puck to the net and uh also try to hit every time so yeah I will say I’m a power forward and which say you enjoy the physical aspect of the game that’s obviously something they’re looking add particularly at the forward position yeah exactly some many players up H I would say Peter fber uh because you know he’s from Sweden he’s a legend in ice hockey uh so I look at him all the time on the highlights on YouTube and everything and then also here in New Jersey uh Alex holds from Sweden soar I would say t Thompson in um Buffalo and Tom Wilson in Washington Capitals do know inter hold you pass cross paths at all or anything um I work um I mean I think it was two summer ago with the same physical coach um so I just have say hi to him but uh not more I hope it will be far how far away you think you are from try I mean it’s so hard to say I mean uh they ask me like how what do you think and I say just if it’s going to take yeah two three four five years I don’t know I just want to come prepared and you know take a place what are some areas of development you’re looking to improve over either this next season next couple Seasons I will say the play without a puck uh the defense play uh be more stop and go and uh try to be more straight yeah a little bit um I will say it’s uh easier for me to play on the North America rink uh just because of my size yeah as we all know the second day of the draft moves quick and the Devils had a lot of selections unfortunately I can’t highlight every single one and I’m sure that there’s going to be a player that wasn’t selected in the first round that ends up having a pretty decent career for themselves we see it happened in fact one of the devil’s best players was drafted late in his respective draft class and that is J for brat so we’ll see what happens but just wanted to show those prospects some love and attention because as we all know day two of the draft it’s not televised on ESPN it’s swapped over to NHL network doesn’t really get the recognition that I think it deserves but those prospects still work their behinds off to hear their names called and hopefully fulfill their dreams but switching back over from future to current Devils we need to talk about where the Devils go from here because once again it Gerald got to work all right if you’re curious and the lights just went out on me and that’s a sign that they’re going to kick me out soon so I got to wrap this up quickly if you’re curious as to what the devil’s cap space is looking like after the draft and after making those two trades they have about1 19,7 92,7 se0 in cap space available and like I said in segment one free agency begins July 1 and the hustle and bustle of what’s been going on the past few days does not end Stanley Cup Final NHL draft development camp and now free agency and the devils are not finished I actually spoke with Jim Beringer of full press hockey and he was telling me that the devils are looking to make even more moves they got to get a little tougher on their bottom six that’s why they acquired cter from the golden knights and they want to get some more depth on the back end and I think they’re looking at peshi and also Dylan once again it’s all speculation but I think the devils are in a prime position to land peshi at least because they were heavily linked to him we’ll see what transpires for the Devils but Fitzgerald has been hearing the criticism loud and clear what the Devils had going for them last year wasn’t working and he had to make a desperation switch that’s why you get rid of Kevin ball and you get yourself a legitimate goalie in Jacob markstrom you trade it away had to show Adam hamway some love for draft picks so that way you clear up some of the money that he was guaranteed the next few seasons because once again the concern I had for the Devils was that they had too many players signed to long-term deals and you got to move quickly especially when some of those players modifi no trade claws or no movement Clause kicks in on July 1 and that’s exactly what Fitzgerald did they are not done I anticipate a few more moves from the Devils but for the time being that’s a wrap day two of the ANL draft here at the spear in Las Vegas Nevada thank you guys for sticking by me the past couple days I really enjoyed it and now it’s time to get on a flight back home so like I do to close out every episode continue to stay safe have a wonderful day New Jersey go Devils I’ll catch you guys in the next episode thanks for listening once again

There was more chaos for the New Jersey Devils on the second day of the NHL Draft. In addition to making their draft selections, they also made a couple of big trades. John Marino heads to the Utah HC, whereas Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid are off to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Devils received Paul Cotter and more available cap space in the process.

Recorded live from The Sphere (Las Vegas, NV)

Interview soundbites: Kasper Pikkarainen & Herman Traff

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