The New Jersey Devils were very good last season, and it was all thanks to players they received in trades over the years. Kyle Palmieri came over from the Anaheim Ducks for two picks in 2015. The next season, the Devils traded Adam Larsson straight up for Taylor Hall, who’s a Hart Trophy favorite this season. In the middle of this season, the Devils acquired Sami Vatanen for Adam Henrique, Joe Blandisi and a third-round pick.
Those players are the foundation of this current Devils team, and Marcus Johansson, another player Ray Shero traded for, could soon add to that foundation.