The New Jersey Devils made a trade that probably doesn’t look great on GM Ray Shero prior to last season. The San Jose Sharks were looking for a landing spot for former first-round pick Mirco Mueller, and Shero was willing to give him a shot. Shero gave up a second and fourth-round pick for Mueller and a fifth-round pick.
Mueller came to the Devils at an awkward time. When he got there, he seemed like a lock to be in the starting lineup, especially since he was protected in the Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion draft. It seemed like his biggest competition for time would be Steve Santini and Dalton Prout.