The Devils traded forwards Adam Henrique and Joseph Blandisi, plus their 2018 third-round pick, to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick.
The Devils can get the Ducks' 2019 third-round pick if Henrique re-signs in Anaheim prior to that Draft. If Henrique re-signs after, the Devils will get the Ducks' 2020 third-round pick. If Henrique does not re-sign in Anaheim, the Devils will not get a pick back.
Vatanen will meet the Devils in Colorado after the team departs New Jersey on Thursday. The Devils play at the Avalanche on Friday and at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
Prior to the blockbuster trade, Henrique played his entire career in New Jersey after the Devils drafted him in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft. Over the course of eight NHL seasons, Henrique played in 455 games where he had 122 goals and 135 assists.
Henrique delivered one of the Devils' most iconic moments when he scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, defeating the Rangers and sending the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals.
By adding Vatanen, the Devils get a 26-year-old defenseman who can chew up big minutes on the blue line. The Devils sacrificed some of their forward depth by losing Henrique and Blandisi, but they did so in an effort to bolster their defense, which always comes at a cost.
Vatanen is under contract through the 2019-20 season, so the Devils have control of him for two more seasons after 2017-18.
Vatanen has 33 goals and 93 assists in 280 games over six NHL seasons. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft.
While he doesn't boast big offensive numbers, Vatanen gives the Devils a top-pairing, shut-down defenseman that they haven't had since they sent Adam Larsson to the Edmonton Oilers in a trade for Taylor Hall.
Henrique's lineup spot should be filled by Marcus Johansson in the short term, as the Devils forward is very close returning after suffering a concussion on Nov. 1.
Vatanen is a right-shot defenseman, and he could slot in on the right side where Steven Santini, Damon Severson and Ben Lovejoy currently occupy spots.
Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.