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What the Winnipeg Jets get: FW Tyler Toffoli
What the New Jersey Devils will get: 2025 second-round pick, 2024 third-round pick (also retains 50 percent of Toffoli’s salary)
Eric Duhaczek: This is the third time in his career that Toffoli has been traded to a Canadian NHL team at the deadline. Everyone who watches hockey above the 49th parallel is painfully reminded of this fact each spring. That means a Canadian team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993.
Is it third time lucky?
The Jets hope so. After acquiring Sean Monahan from the Montreal Canadiens earlier this season, the Jets made another big move Friday morning, acquiring Toffoli from New Jersey for a very attractive price. A third-round pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025. He’s a poor man’s Jake Guentzel. Toffoli is the No. 2 rental-available winger on the board, moving into the top spot after Guentzel was traded to Carolina the day before. Guentzel did not pay a king’s ransom to Pittsburgh, and Toffoli did not pay New Jersey. This suggests that the 2024 deadline will turn into a buyer’s market.
But let’s play on the ice. The Jets needed Toffoli primarily because he brings three pieces to the mix.
One, he’s a finisher. In Winnipeg, he would complement Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers and round out the top six neatly. Number two, he’s a 200-footer. For Jets coach Rick Bowness, playing responsible defense is a must. Toffoli is not the fastest player – never really was – but he has good hockey sense and instincts, and is often in the right place at the right time in the defensive zone. Third – and this is why history matters – the last two times Toffoli moved at the deadline, he was a seamless fit.
Trade deadline failures often have less to do with the talent of the players being brought in and more to do with how they adjust to playing in a new team, new system, and new city in a short amount of time.
So, remember when Toffoli went from Los Angeles to Vancouver at the 2020 deadline, he scored 10 points in 10 regular season games and seven more in the playoffs.
Two years later, in February 2022, Toffoli was traded from Montreal to Calgary. The Flames felt they were a cup favorite that season, and Toffoli proved to be a useful addition, scoring 23 points in 37 regular season games. Remember, this was the year Calgary had a top line of Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, and Johnny Gaudreau, so Toffoli was always going to get an offensive scrap. But he became an important complement. Toffoli, who took on a bigger role last year after Gaudreau and Tkachuk abandoned ship, had the best season of his life with 34 goals and 73 points. The Flames traded him to New Jersey in the summer, and the Devils were ready to move on from Toffoli, not because they didn’t like what he brought to the table, but because they couldn’t agree on a contract extension, which led to Calgary They traded him last summer, which was also the reason.
Like many teams destined to miss the playoffs, the Devils had no interest in wasting assets. If Toffoli’s numbers are prorated, it could be the second-best season of his NHL career. And with 26 goals, he could surpass his career-high of 34 goals if he finishes well. Like many goalscorers, Toffoli is likely to go on a scoring streak.
Toffoli has had two long playoff runs in his career, winning the Stanley Cup against the Los Angeles Kings twice and reaching the finals with the Canadiens in 2021 (playing in an all-Canadian division). But they lost to Tampa Bay. In total, he has 44 points in 88 playoff games.
He has great hands, an infectious personality, and a playoff pedigree. Fit is always important in trade deadline deals, but getting one in Winnipeg should be easy. In short, he’s a really good addition for the Jets. And what’s the price? It’s more than fair. New Jersey gave up one player and a third-rounder to acquire Toffoli from Calgary. In this exchange, they got back a third-rounder.
Second, will he match up to Egor Sharangovich, who had a great season in Calgary and was a key player for the Flames last summer? Probably not. But that’s how the market is, and the returns aren’t overwhelming across the board. So let’s give the devil a favor here.
Jets grade: a
Devil grade: C
Shayna Goldman: The battle for first place in the central region is becoming more and more intense. Chris Tanev was a perfect fit on the Stars’ defense, and the Avalanche made some big moves to improve their chances. After getting an early start to the trade season with the addition of Monahan, Ball is back in the Jets’ court.
Winnipeg didn’t have to pay a premium for top wingers on the market like Guentzel or Pavel Buchnevich. I think it’s only right that a talented player like Toffoli round out the top six and add even more depth to the Jets’ forward group.
The Jets had a really great season, but they could use more firepower down the stretch heading into the playoffs. Toffoli brings that with his ability to create high percentages of quality shots and his finishing talent. This should improve the team’s attacking creativity, both at even strength and especially on the power play, where there is a lot of room for improvement. To get the best out of Toffoli, pairing him with a skilled puck mover will be effective. A dual wielder like Nikolaj Ehlers might be the best choice.
The Devils are currently in a difficult position as they are not completely out of the playoff picture. But given how disappointing this season has been, it makes a lot of sense in the world to move on from pending unrestricted free agency and bring back assets that will help in the future — perhaps before the deadline. , or perhaps in a goalie trade this summer.Returns are ok, nothing too much special. This fits in considering what Guentzel, the top winger on the market, brings back.
Moving Toffoli doesn’t necessarily mean the Devils are throwing down the white flag. That’s because there are other options, from the underutilized Timo Meier to Alex Holtz, who are ready to take on bigger top-six roles. It only means that the management is being realistic and proactive, despite their lack so far this season, and better late than never.
Jets grade: a
Devil grade: B
(Photo: Philip G. Pavely/USA Today)
