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The Anaheim Ducks have traded defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick to the New Jersey Devils for centers Adam Henrique and Joseph Blandisi along with a 2018 third-round pick, the teams announced Thursday. The cross-conference deal comes a bit out of nowhere for a pair of teams looking to shake things up.
The Devils will only receive a pick from the Ducks if Anaheim signs Henrique to a contract extension, per Cap Friendly. If the Ducks extend Henrique before the 2019 draft, New Jersey receives Anaheim’s 2019 third-round pick. If they extend him afterwards, New Jersey receives Anaheim’s 2020 third-round pick. If there’s no extension, no pick will be exchanged.
Vatanen, who is signed through 2020 at a $4.875 million cap hit, gives the Devils some immediate depth on the blue line after their hot start to the season. The 26-year-old has recorded four points and a 42.1 percent even strength Corsi in 15 appearances this season after missing some time due to injury. New Jersey is pretty thin on defense, especially with Mirco Mueller on injured reserve, so the addition of Vatanen helps solidify their blue line for the rest of the season.
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In order to make that happen, the Devils had to give up Henrique, a key part of their team since 2011, and Blandisi, a fine depth forward. But with the emergence of No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier on the top line and the return of Travis Zajac from injury, those players became expendable in the quest for a defenseman.
Henrique, 27, is a solid middle-six center who has a 30-goal season on his resume. Through 24 games with New Jersey this season, he recorded four goals and 10 assists. The Ducks will have him at a $4 million cap hit through next season, when he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
Blandisi, 23, has played 68 games with the Devils, but he’s been in the AHL this season. At that level, he’s recorded 62 points in 77 games.
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Anaheim badly needed players like Henrique and Blandisi given all of the injuries on its roster. The team is without its top two centers in Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, and has been skating Derek Grant on the top line with Nick Ritchie and Corey Perry lately. Henrique should be able to immediately step in to help there, and Blandisi provides some bonus depth. The Ducks are 11-10-4 despite all those injuries, and still have their eyes on the playoffs if things go right.
For both teams, this is an attempt to reallocate around some depth in more important places. The Ducks needed a center or two to weather their litany of injuries, and the Devils needed a defenseman to cement their depth chart after a surprisingly good start to the season. Both teams seem to have accomplished that here.