Kevin Cheveldayoff has made his first of what may be several moves before next weeks’ trade deadline, acquiring defenseman Dylan DeMelo from the Ottawa Senators for a third round draft pick. The general feelings from the media experts is that this was a good value trade for the Jets even though DeMelo will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
The word on DeMelo is that he is a solid defender, good penalty killer, with limited offensive abilities. He has played top four minutes with the Senators and should nicely slide into that role with the Jets, mercifully pushing one of the Jets current defensemen further down the depth chart.
The risk is he walks at the end of the season as a UFA and that the Jets lose a third round pick. Not a huge price to pay, but, decreases the already small number of draft picks the Jets have this summer (a first, second, fifth and sixth round pick). DeMelo will at least be a UFA within the Jets range in terms of expected salary, so there is a chance he re-signs.
I say well done Chevy! What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments section.
