Schneider Shipped

2018-10-30
Add long-time Starting Netminder Cory Schneider to the list of players shipped out of town by the EHE's New Jersey Devils.
 
Back on October 16th, the New Jersey Devils announced a trade sending long-time Starting Goaltender Cory Schnieder to the Chicago Blackhawks.  
 
By trading Schnieder, the Devils parted ways with a pillar of their organization, significantly altering the team’s identity.  With Schnieder gone, the Devils are handing the reigns of the crease to recently signed Keith Kinkaid, and Mike Condon (acquired via trade).
 
The return will pay some level of dividends.  The question is when, and to what extent?
 
For the time being, it raises doubts between the pipes for New Jersey. It also throws another dagger into the playoff hopes of Devils faithful.  
 
For the future, however, it brings light, knowing that the Devils are continuing to build a pool a respectable pool of prospects.  
 
Lets have a look at what the deal looks like on paper:
 
To NJD: 2020 CHI 1st, Jeremy Davies,  Alexander Barre-Boulet, Eric Comrie, and $2 Million.
To CHI: Cory Schnieder
 
Bates reportedly had some concerns with Schnieder moving forward.  Ultimately, the team decided that from a timing standpoint, Schnieder was unlikely to still be at his peek by the time the Devils are contending.
 
Rather than risk Schnieder's value dropping any lower at age 32, the Devils elected to trade him now.  The Veteran Goalie is coming off Hip Surgery, and has a career low Save Percentage of .907 in his last 100 NHL games.  
 
The Devils could effectively be eliminating the potential of a keeping a diminishing asset.
 
This is not to say that Schnieder will continue to decline.  He has all of the talent and pedigree to get his numbers back on track.  We have seen, and continue to watch Goaltenders sustain success well into their 30's (see Pekka Rinne, Marc-Andre Fleury, Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Smith, Tim Thomas, etc.)
 
Lingering issues prior to the surgery, and lack of supporting cast, could very well be the primary reasons for a regression in Schnieder's over the past two NHL seasons.  Surgery may in fact eliminate those lingering issues, and help Schnieder come back stronger.  
 
From the Blackhawks perspective, this deal is a no brainer.  Schnieder is a huge addition and will be a legitimate number 1 Goaltender.  The contending Hawks fill a big need by acquiring Schnieder.  
 
GM Gidlow did so without having to get into bidding wars with other teams in UFA.  Chicago also succeeded by not mortgaging any assets from their current roster.  The Hawks parted with 5 assets in total, but non of which will have any real impact at the NHL level for at least 2-3 years.
 
From the Devils perspective: New Jersey  acquires a second 2020 1st Round pick in what is already shaping up to be an exceptional draft.  Eric Comrie (still just 23) adds depth to the Devils Goaltending position and looks to be in line for a solid year.  Prospects Jeremy Davies and Alex Barre-Boulet are swing-for-the-fences-type players who have been offensive catalysts at their respective levels. 
 
 
North Eastern (NCAA) Head Coach (2011-Present) Jim Madigan on Jeremy Davies as per Devils Insider Podcast:
 
"Jeremy has just made tremendous strides from his freshman to his sophomore year of college and you know he’s probably the most gifted Offensive Defenseman in College Hockey.”
“On the ice, he’s really good guys. You know, he’s as smart as they come, he’s as skilled as they come, he sees it before the play unfolds.” 
"And he’s gonna be able to do that at the NHL level.  He’s as good as Matt Benning who’s played the last 2 seasons in the NHL, and as good as Josh Manson who’s played 4 years in the NHL.”
 
"They’re different types of players, but Jeremy’s gonna be able to make that same impact as those players have who came right out of College and stepped right into the NHL after their College career was completed.”
 
 
Julian BriseBois on Barre-Boulet and similarities to Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde:
“I think he is in that mold. Now, he’s going to have to put the work in that those guys put in to become the players they have become,” - On Barré-Boulet’s size. “He’s a young guy… We’ll work on him getting stronger, more powerful, improve his skating. He’s tough to play against because of his competitiveness. The times I’ve seen him, what’s really impressed me the most is his hockey sense. He’s a good prospect"
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/person-interest-chl-player-year-alex-barre-boulet/
 
 
Barre-Boulet (21) currently leads the Syracuse Crunch in scoring as an AHL Rookie, and was the 2017-2018 CHL player of the year. Davies (also 21) is a point per game, (East) All American NCAA Defenseman, and 2018 Spengler Cup Champion.
Bates referred to both players as being underrated prospects that he expects to surprise a lot of people.
 
In the meantime,
 
New Jersey bids farewell to Cory Schnieder, as the organization gets set to embark on what is expected to be their toughest season in EHE history. 
 
For now, there is one belief Devils fans must hang onto in order to maintain their faith.
 
No pain, no gain.
 
Best of luck, Cory.  You will be missed.