Devils Acquire Foster

Trade Details:

The Devils trade Rod Pelley, Mark Fraser, and a seventh round draft pick in 2012 to the Anaheim Ducks for Kurtis Foster and Timo Pielmeier.

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New Jersey Devils Acquire:

D. Kurtis Foster Age: 30 Height: 6-5 Weight: 226 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $766,667 Expires: 2012 (RFA) Important Facts: -Suffered a broken femur during the 2008-09 season -The season following his terrible injury (2009-10), he came back to post his career best point total with 42 points -Won the AHL Man of the Year award for the 2003-04 season.

G. Timo Pielmeier Age: 22 Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $1,800,000  Expires: 2012 (UFA) Important Facts: -Has been traded twice in his short career. -Born in Germany and played for them in the 2008-09 WJC. -So far at the pro-hockey level (NHL, AHL, ECHL) he hasn't had a GAA less than three.

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Anaheim Ducks Acquire:

C. Rod Pelley Age: 27 Height: 5-11 Weight: 200 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $550,000 Expires: 2012 (UFA) Important Facts: -Has been placed on waivers twice this season. -Has been a full-time roster player for the Devils for the past two years.

D. Mark Fraser Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 220 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $550,000 Expires: 2012 (RFA) Important Facts: -Has been placed on waivers twice this season. -In his 98 NHL games, he overall has been a plus-player with a +2.

Seventh Round Draft Pick (2012) Important Facts: -New Jersey's own pick.

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Analysis:

The New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks linked up to make a very solid trade for both sides. In my opinion each side gets to fill a few needs in this move, and I am sure that down the line we will see this trade pay off for each team in one way or another. 

For the Devils they get a guy in Kurtis Foster who is a great offensive defenseman. His biggest asset is his shot and its used particularly well on the power play which just happened to be one of the Devils biggest needs; a boost to their power play. As of today they have the 5th worst power play percentage and they have desperately been looking to add a guy that can help that and they believe that Foster is that guy. Two seasons ago (2009-10), Foster had a career year and was a beast on the power play. That year he was playing on the Tampa Bay Lightning and the coach that was responsible for teaching the power play was then Lightning assistant coach Adam Oates. Now Oates is the assistant coach for the Devils which may be the spark that Foster needs to revisit the success he had that year. 

Along with Foster, the Devils acquired goaltender Timo Pielmeier from the Ducks. Pielmeier was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft, but has struggled mightily at the pro-level. His goals against average at the ECHL level is over three and as expected based on his stats his play has been sub-par. The Devils make this move mainly because of the perfect fit of Foster, but they also were influenced by their promise to do well by some of their hardest workers. Lou Lamoriello had this to say about his decision to move Pelley & Fraser:

“When you have such quality individuals who have given you so much each and every day in the locker room with support, you try to do the best for them,” Lamoriello said. “This is a win situation for both of them. The Ducks are getting two role players who will be tremendous for them and we’re getting a player who has tremendous upside in the role that we see that he’ll fit.”

The Ducks have been targeting depth and with this move thats exactly what they get. These two guys are very nice call-ups or reserve players that can step in and give everything they have if they are needed. This also was a very welcomed move for the Ducks as they have been looking to shed some salary for weeks. They will probably walk away from this trade saving about one million dollars, and for a financially strapped organization like the Ducks this is something to be very happy about.