After months of speculation amid a disastrous season in New Jersey, Devilsgeneral manager Ray Shero finally pulled the trigger by . In the dealthat also saw Blake Speers go to the desert,the Devils receivedthree prospects, a 2020 first-round pick (top-3 protected) and a conditional third-round selection in 2021. New Jersey also retained 50 percentof Halls remaining contract, which expires on July 1. Hall, the 2018 Hart Trophy winner who turned 28 in November, is a former first Cheick Diallo Jersey -overall pick who began his career in Edmonton and was . In his second year with New Jersey, Hall established career-best marks in goals (39), a sists (54), and points (93), and he was critical that season in leading the Devils to their first playoff appearance since the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. He mi sed 49 games last season, however, and as the Devils failed to qualify for the postseason, questions regarding his future with the organization began to intensify. Although Hall has rebounded to lead New Jersey in scoring this season (25 points in 30 games), the Devils inability to get him to sign a contract extension, coupled with New Jerseys terrible first half that , convinced Shero to open the phone lines and begin shopping his topperformer. For Arizona, the move is just another example of the franchise strengthening itscommitment to the community by adding more star power to their playoff-contending roster. Since 2017, GM John Chayka has shown a willingne s to deal draft picks and prospects for high-priced talent. On Monday, he dipped into his prospect pool again, sending physical defenseman Kevin Bahl and AHL-tested forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr to the Garden State. Chayka also traded a first-round pick for the second time in three years. The prospects Kevin Bahl, defenseman Age: 19 |6-7, 230 pounds| Left-handed| Drafted: 2018 (55th overall) The most defense-oriented defenseman for Team Canada for the upcoming world junior hockey championship, Bahl is a big body with a long reach who on occasion will display good mobility and skate the puck out of harms way. The Ottawa (OHL) defensemanowns a very hard shot but projects more as a shutdown type than a defenseman who can provide consistent offense. Nick Merkley, forward Age: 22 | 5-10, 195 pounds | Left-handed| Drafted: 2015 (30th) A shifty, agile playmaker with a low center of gravity, Merkley has spent most of his pro career in the AHL (Tuscon) and when healthy, he has been one of Arizonas most promising prospects. Unfortunately, injuries forced him to mi s half of each of the last two seasons. This year, however, he looks healthy and ready for a full-time NHL role. Nate Schnarr, center Age: 20 | 6-3, 180 pounds | Right-handed | Drafted: 2017 (75th) A versatile two-way center with size and strong stickhandling skills, Schnarr is a right-handed shot who starred for the OHLs Guelph Storm, helping them win the league championship and a spot in the 2019 Memorial Cup. He can run a power play from the half-wall, but also has a hard shot if he mans the point. Schnarr is a very good penalty killer and wins big faceoffs in key situations. His skating is average, but his deliberate style suits him well and gives him the chance to carve up poorly-positioned opponents once inside the offensive zone. MORE:P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds could join Taylor Hall on trade block Grading the trade Arizona: A The Yotes can taste their first playoff berth since 2012. They sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 42 points and their 82goals against is the second-lowest allowed in the Western Conference. Their attack has been more timely and opportunistic than it has been consistent, as they sit tied for 25th in shooting percentage (8.5 percent) and 5-on-5 scoring chances for(47.8 percent). Hall brings them a dimension they havent enjoyed in some time an individual who can carry a line by himself while producing at close to a point-per-game rate. Arizonas scoring by committee might work in the regular seasonbut adding Hall ensures they have a bonafide star to lean on when the going gets tough. The fact that they were able to retain prized prospects Barrett Hayton and Victor Soderstrom, in addition to making New Jersey retain half of Halls remaining $6 million salary, makes the move even sweeter for Coyotes fans. New Jersey: C+ You rarely win a trade when your team is in the doldrums and you are forced to movea star with an expiring contract. This was the situation Shero was in and while some might say he got the best dealavailable, the truth is that hes had 37 draft picks since 2016 and is in desperate need of NHL-caliber support or anything resembling a goalie prospect or both. Instead,he got three B-level prospects and a potential late first-round pick. The only team in the organization which benefits from this move is the AHL affiliate in Binghamton. Long-term, the biggest prize of this deal is the first-round pick with opinions on Bahls upsideall over the place. Shero'sprobably glad the deal is done and the team can move forward with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier leading the way; unfortunately, he couldnt trade his megastar for high-upside goal-scoring prospects who would compliment them. Jevon Carter Jersey
After months of speculation amid a disastrous season in New Jersey, Devilsgeneral manager Ray Shero finally pulled the trigger by . In the dealthat also saw Blake Speers go to the desert,the Devils receivedthree prospects, a 2020 first-round pick (top-3 protected) and a conditional third-round selection in 2021. New Jersey also retained 50 percentof Halls remaining contract, which expires on July 1. Hall, the 2018 Hart Trophy winner who turned 28 in November, is a former first Cheick Diallo Jersey -overall pick who began his career in Edmonton and was . In his second year with New Jersey, Hall established career-best marks in goals (39), a sists (54), and points (93), and he was critical that season in leading the Devils to their first playoff appearance since the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. He mi sed 49 games last season, however, and as the Devils failed to qualify for the postseason, questions regarding his future with the organization began to intensify. Although Hall has rebounded to lead New Jersey in scoring this season (25 points in 30 games), the Devils inability to get him to sign a contract extension, coupled with New Jerseys terrible first half that , convinced Shero to open the phone lines and begin shopping his topperformer. For Arizona, the move is just another example of the franchise strengthening itscommitment to the community by adding more star power to their playoff-contending roster. Since 2017, GM John Chayka has shown a willingne s to deal draft picks and prospects for high-priced talent. On Monday, he dipped into his prospect pool again, sending physical defenseman Kevin Bahl and AHL-tested forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr to the Garden State. Chayka also traded a first-round pick for the second time in three years. The prospects Kevin Bahl, defenseman Age: 19 |6-7, 230 pounds| Left-handed| Drafted: 2018 (55th overall) The most defense-oriented defenseman for Team Canada for the upcoming world junior hockey championship, Bahl is a big body with a long reach who on occasion will display good mobility and skate the puck out of harms way. The Ottawa (OHL) defensemanowns a very hard shot but projects more as a shutdown type than a defenseman who can provide consistent offense. Nick Merkley, forward Age: 22 | 5-10, 195 pounds | Left-handed| Drafted: 2015 (30th) A shifty, agile playmaker with a low center of gravity, Merkley has spent most of his pro career in the AHL (Tuscon) and when healthy, he has been one of Arizonas most promising prospects. Unfortunately, injuries forced him to mi s half of each of the last two seasons. This year, however, he looks healthy and ready for a full-time NHL role. Nate Schnarr, center Age: 20 | 6-3, 180 pounds | Right-handed | Drafted: 2017 (75th) A versatile two-way center with size and strong stickhandling skills, Schnarr is a right-handed shot who starred for the OHLs Guelph Storm, helping them win the league championship and a spot in the 2019 Memorial Cup. He can run a power play from the half-wall, but also has a hard shot if he mans the point. Schnarr is a very good penalty killer and wins big faceoffs in key situations. His skating is average, but his deliberate style suits him well and gives him the chance to carve up poorly-positioned opponents once inside the offensive zone. MORE:P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds could join Taylor Hall on trade block Grading the trade Arizona: A The Yotes can taste their first playoff berth since 2012. They sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 42 points and their 82goals against is the second-lowest allowed in the Western Conference. Their attack has been more timely and opportunistic than it has been consistent, as they sit tied for 25th in shooting percentage (8.5 percent) and 5-on-5 scoring chances for(47.8 percent). Hall brings them a dimension they havent enjoyed in some time an individual who can carry a line by himself while producing at close to a point-per-game rate. Arizonas scoring by committee might work in the regular seasonbut adding Hall ensures they have a bonafide star to lean on when the going gets tough. The fact that they were able to retain prized prospects Barrett Hayton and Victor Soderstrom, in addition to making New Jersey retain half of Halls remaining $6 million salary, makes the move even sweeter for Coyotes fans. New Jersey: C+ You rarely win a trade when your team is in the doldrums and you are forced to movea star with an expiring contract. This was the situation Shero was in and while some might say he got the best dealavailable, the truth is that hes had 37 draft picks since 2016 and is in desperate need of NHL-caliber support or anything resembling a goalie prospect or both. Instead,he got three B-level prospects and a potential late first-round pick. The only team in the organization which benefits from this move is the AHL affiliate in Binghamton. Long-term, the biggest prize of this deal is the first-round pick with opinions on Bahls upsideall over the place. Shero'sprobably glad the deal is done and the team can move forward with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier leading the way; unfortunately, he couldnt trade his megastar for high-upside goal-scoring prospects who would compliment them. Jevon Carter Jersey