The Ottawa Senators are taking biting early with a preseason trade that sees forward Zach MacEwen move to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defender/winger Kurtis MacDermid. 

MacEwen was a factor in the preseason Quebec City brawls with Jan Jenik against the Xhekaj brothers of the Montreal Canadiens. 

MacEwen is in the final season of a league minimum deal. This saves the Devils cap room and moves a defender off the books with the recent extension to Luke Hughes. 

MacDermid has this season and next season at a $1.125M cap hit. This keeps an enforcer in the dressing room, and one that plays both defense and offense. The unsigned rearguard was on the winning Colorado Avalanche roster in 2022 that upset the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

MacDermid also unites former Kings teammates including Jordan Spence, Michael Amadio, and Arthur Kayliev. 

His agency also represents Thomas Chabot and Kayliev. 

The concern of acquiring MacDermid may be his fighting record in the Metro, as the Devils originally acquired him out of Colorado to fight Matt Rempe in New York. With Xheaj ridding the Leafs of Reaves and the Sens of MacEwen, is MacDermid falling into the same territory? The other worry is if he becomes a replacement version of Travis Hamonic, where there is little production when the league is becoming more speed and skill based than the old school violence many adore about the best sport on Earth. 

What say you about this minor transaction between the Devils and Senators? More to come…Â