BOLTS BRING IN BLAKE COLEMAN
The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired forward Blake Coleman from the New Jersey Devils for winger Nolan Foote and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2020.
What does it give the Tampa Bay Lightning
In Coleman, the Lightning bring in a solid, versatile forward enjoying a career campaign in 2019-20. Flirting with a 30-goal season, the 28-year-old Coleman is signed through 2020-21 with a cap hit of only $1.8 million (which added significant value and appeal for contending clubs). His addition to the red-hot Bolts should increase their playoff chances and help erase last year's first-round postseason loss via sweep by the Columbus Blue Jackets. That all said, the cost for acquiring Coleman was huge.
What does it give the New Jersey Devils
The Devils, who have endured a disappointing and largely catastrophic campaign in '19-20, did very well here to ship out a player at his highest value in Coleman. In return, New Jersey lands arguably Tampa Bay's top prospect in Foote, a strapping winger who might be able to contribute to the Devils as early as next season, plus Vancouver's first-round pick in '20 (which would become Tampa Bay's first pick in '21 if the Canucks miss the playoffs this spring). This is an outstanding trade for the Devils.
Fantasy impact
For Coleman, this trade hurts his value a little bit because he is not expected to receive the same amount of ice time in Tampa Bay that he was seeing in New Jersey. Plus, there will be added pressure on his shoulders to perform given the cost to acquire him. As for Foote, his stock is rising and he is almost certain to now have a quicker path to the NHL as a member of the Devils organization. He should be drafted in all keeper formats next year and could even be a candidate for late-round selection in non-keeper leagues.
