Trade Analysis: The New Jersey Devils Get Their Guy in Janne Kuokkanen

It was no surprise when the New Jersey Devils announced that they’d dealt pending unrestricted free agent defenceman Sami Vatanen. The only questions were ‘where’ and ‘at what cost?’

Soon after, NHL insiders revealed that the Carolina Hurricanes were the ones to pluck Vatanen off of the trade block, surrendering Janne Kuokkanen, Fredrik Claesson, and a conditional fourth-round pick for the privilege.

With Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton on the shelf, Canes general manager Don Waddell had to do something to address the right side of his blue line. Vatanen alone can’t fill either’s shoes, and particularly not while he recovers from an injury of his own, granted. Assuming a return to health in the not-so-distant future, though, Vatanen offers mobility, power play utility, and a veteran presen