Just a few hours after reports emerged that the New Jersey Devils had traded forward Blake Coleman to the Colorado Avalanche, after which he was scratched from tonight’s game, the forward has officially been dealt. However, not to Denver. TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report that Coleman has been traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He adds that the return for New Jersey is a 2020 first-round pick and forward prospect Nolan Foote. The first-rounder will be the Vancouver Canucks’ pick acquired in the J.T. Miller trade, rather than the Bolts’ own selection. Both teams have confirmed the deal.
At first glance, it is clear that the Lightning paid a hefty price in this exchange. Not only did Tampa give up a first-round pick, and the likely higher pick of the two they owned, but Foote was also their first-round selection just last year and the top forward in the pipeline. The big winger, who is the son of former NHLer Adam Foote and brother of Bolts prospect Cal Foote, already has pro size and is continually developing a next-level skill set and hockey IQ. Foote, the captain of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, has scored at more than a point-per-game pace this season and also added five points in seven games at the World Junior Championship. Foote looks ready to help an NHL team sooner rather than later and the Devils will now be the club to reap that reward.
However, the metrics of production versus pay may help to explain why Coleman commanded such a sizeable cost and why he may be a crucial addition for the cap-strapped Lightning. Coleman is in the second year of a three-year, $5.4MM deal signed with the Devils. That means he is making just $1.8MM against the cap this year and next. At that value, the 28-year-old has recorded 21 goals and 31 points through 57 games this season, his second 20-goal season in a row. Not only that, but Coleman is also an intelligent two-way player who brings physicality and poise with his defensive game. Coleman has been one of New Jersey’s best players this season and his addition to a deep Lightning lineup makes for an embarrassment of riches in Tampa. After a shocking first-round sweep last season, the 2019 President’s Trophy winners are loading up in hopes of ensuring that such a collapse does not occur again.
TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, who had reported earlier today that a Coleman deal to Colorado was done, maintains that the Avalanche as well as the Boston Bruins were in the running for the versatile forward until the end. It’s fair to assume that the cost of beating the Bolts’ offer likely proved to be too much for either squad. It will be interesting to see if either team circles back to New Jersey to discuss another term forward in Kyle Palmieri, or if that asking price – probably even higher – will be too much as well. The Bruins especially are feeling the pressure of this addition by Tampa Bay, the biggest threat to unseat them at the top of the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division as well as a very likely playoff opponent.
While Foote sticks out as the most impressive piece heading to the Devils, it is worth noting that the team now has three first-round picks in June: their own, the Arizona Coyotes’ pick from the Taylor Hall trade, and now Vancouver’s pick via Tampa. They also added a second-round pick earlier in the day from the New York Islanders in exchange for veteran defenseman Andy Greene. With Palmieri possibly on the move and a Sami Vatanen even more likely to be dealt (Travis Zajac and Wayne Simmonds are also names on the rumor mill), the Devils are not done making moves and could at least one more first-round pick before the trade deadline passes next week.
They gave up Foote and a 1st for Coleman? Jesus that’s a kings ransom for a depth guy could be a a better deal then what they got for hall
Contracts make a big difference
Seems like a lot for a 3rd liner at best.
Head get hit with a puck lately?
Its overpay season. This is an insane package. Can’t wait for my Kings to trade off Toffoli in this ridiculous market where fringe 2nd liners at best get this type of deal.
If this keeps up looks like Dubas fleeced ya for Campbell and Clifford
Meh, Clifford is all grit so he fits the Leafs well and Campbell is a backup. Both teams got what they needed.
It’s almost like Tampa paid more for the term, rather than the player’s value.
Coleman is top 40 in goals scored this season and plays in all situations. His contract has term and is incredibly team friendly. I’m not sure how he qualifies as a depth guy. He’s basically a top 6 winger on every NHL team.
Yes his career high of 36 points makes him top 6 on every team
He’s a top fifty goal scorer this season with the majority of his starts coming in the defensive zone for a poor team. Yes, he is a top six player. I can’t imagine any team currently that has five or six twenty goal scorers as wingers, can you?
Okay we seem to be at an impasse here. I don’t think Coleman’s bad he’s a good 3rd line player who’s having a career year. The devils are known for having guys like him who can’t perform when they leave the devils. Guys like Clarkson come to mind. And Well Tampa comes to mind for a team that he’s probably not playing consistent top 6 minutes
I understand what you’re saying but Clarkson had better quality line mates, benefited from PP and wasn’t a PK guy. Coleman’s 5on5 numbers are strong, he’s played a lot of PK minutes, has scored a number of short handed goals the last three years, and hasn’t benefited from PP time as much as Clarkson did. I think Coleman is more than a depth player is all and I can see him being a source of secondary scoring as well as a top PK guy for TB.
Coleman is a bottom six depth guy. The Devils won this deal.
Explain how he’s a bottom six depth guy. Show your work.
If you go back to all NHL Line Combination sites say Cap Friendly or Daily Faceoff , etc. etc. Coleman is always listed as 2nd line combination , now in defense he will more likely be in bottom six , thou will be on penalty kill and most likely 2nd Power Play Unit.
The Bolts gave up alot for Coleman, but this deal makes them one difficult team to beat…..and they were already very good!
If Coleman nets this kind of return, imagine what Kreider will be worth in a trade.
Isn’t kreider a free agent this summer?,,,,,,big difference
The key is Coleman is low cost cash wise,,,,that adds to the trade value, along with an extra year,,,,,,,Tampa gets a huge addition this year and they can trade someone with a big contract in the summer,,,,,,it was a typical trade of the times
Glad Colorado bowed out and didn’t try to outbid that ridiculous offer.
Twice as much as the Pens gave up for 4 playoff runs with Jason Zucker, a first line winger.
Good addition, but, very steep price.
Zuckers cap hit isn’t 1.8 million, 21 goals on an awful team where you play in every situation is worth the 1.8 million, the eastern conference playoffs is goin to be a meat grinder this year, sound addition for a team in a constant cap crunch
How is it twice as much? Presuming that both picks will be 15th or higher (both are coming from playoff bound teams even if TB’s is originally from Vancouver) Foote is closer to the NHL than Addison, but both teams essentially gave up their best or near best prospect, and Galchenyuk, while a bit of a salary dump, isn’t completely useless – the trades are very similar in terms of value. Pittsburgh gets basically two and a half times more in term and TB pays three times less in salary for a player with more defensive/PK value. I don’t think the Coleman trade makes the Zucker trade look like a heist, I think they both set the market for players with term at 1st round pick and a bona fide high end prospect.
You answered your own question. Foote was a 1st, Addison was a 2nd and the Wild ate the Galchenyuk contract, as well.
Zucker was a slight overpay. Coleman they seriously overpaid.
But…there is no such thing as an overpay if you get the guy who puts you over the top.
Tampa is a soft team. Coleman was what they need.
I don’t think you can look at prospects like that FWJBT. Addison is arguably more valuable than Foote, it doesn’t really matter when they were drafted. He’d easily move into the first round had they done a redraft today.
As a Devils fan, based on Coleman’s Cap and TB cap crunch, this is an even trade. Coleman has 21 goals and only started getting PP time last week. Plus he kills penalties better than anyone.
Everybody laughing at the new GM in Tampa. I applaud all of you for owning those precocious crystal balls.
However, this is the year of injuries and that new GM just one-upped Rutherford in Pit who always throws the first punch come trade season. Which he did. And he overpaid for Zucker.
Bottom line, Tampa is now officially the team to beat for the Cup.
Overpaid for Zuker?? TB just basically gave up two 1st rounders for Blake Coleman. That just sounds bad. And thinking he makes them the favorite for the cup is comical. TB will live and die based on if their best players show up. Kucherov was invisible last playoff and if he disappears again it wont matter they have Coleman.
Caps, Pens, Bruins, Blues all still better than TB.
Amk Coleman is the leagues most underated player. There’s a reason the cost to acquire him was so high
If he was underrated how do NJ get 2 first rounders for him? Your logic is not logical.
He’s underrated in the sense that fans don’t know how good he is. Teams obviously do. That’s why fans are shocked at this price but a team was willing to pay it. It has nothing to do with my logic.
Initially the cost shocked me, however 1.8m a season for a 30-goal scorer(or close this year) and 20-goals the year prior it’s not as nearly as astronomical as it sounds. Imagine the cap-crunch coming Tampa’s way. They eventually can’t keep this group together. Their time for a cup was last year! It’s even more paramount they get this done. I think the shock comes from the fact Coleman is an underrated, under-appreciated player who is not a household name. It’s a steep price but Nolan Foote is by no means a guarantee(although he’s looking good) and he certainly won’t help them at this point. Mortgage the future to win now. Who knows maybe they’re the next Pittsburg.
Sorry meant the cost of Foote and 1st rounder is not as astronomical…obviously the 1.8 is a good deal haha
Pittsburg is in Kansas.
How can someone who was just traded for 2 1st rounders be underrated?
If that’s what Coleman fetched what will the asking price for Kreider and Toffoli be?
not as much for FA players with higher salaries.