The Florida Panthers are once again Stanley Cup champions. During the traditional Cup handoffs in the post-game celebrations, the team did something rather unique. After captain Alexander Barkov received the Cup and took his celebratory lap, he handed it off to the first-time winners on the team, who then continued handing it off to other first-time winners, before other Panthers got their chance.
During the handoff, Tomas Nosek handed it to Vitek Vanecek who handed it to A.J. Greer who handed it to Jesper Boqvist. What do all four of those players have in common? They’re former New Jersey Devils of recent memory.
Three were acquisitions by current general manager Tom Fitzgerald during their times in New Jersey. Jesper Boqvist is the one exception, being a 2019 draft pick by former GM Ray Shero.
Nosek signed as a free agent in New Jersey for the 2023-24 season in which the team failed to live up to their expectations from the previous season and ultimately missed the playoffs. Nosek would only play in 34 games that season due to injury, scoring two goals and four assists before signing with Florida this previous offseason.
A.J. Greer came to New Jersey from the Islanders as a part of the Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac trade near the 2021 trade deadline. Most of his time in the organization was spent in the AHL, only scoring one goal and one assist in ten NHL games. He left the Devils after the 2021-22 season, spending a year apiece with the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames before landing in South Florida.
When Boqvist was drafted in 2019 as a second rounder, he had the potential to be a steal. He never made enough of an impact for the team to give him a qualifying offer after the 2022-23 season, when he signed with the Boston Bruins. Last summer, history repeated itself as Boqvist wasn’t given a qualifying offer by Boston and signed with the Panthers.
The player out of those four who made the most impact in a Devils jersey was Vitek Vanecek. Acquired via trade from the Washington Capitals prior to the 2022-23 season, Vitek was in goal for the Devils best season in well over a decade and became a fan favorite.
Unfortunately, he regressed mightily and dealt with injury the next season as the Devils underperformed. At that season's trade deadline, he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks while injured for Kaapo Kahkonen. Then at the deadline this March, he would be traded to Florida to backup Sergei Bobrovsky.
Should Devils fans blame Tom Fitzgerald for letting four pieces of a now Stanley Cup-winning team get away? Not necessarily, as all four players had stops, and in some cases multiple stops, in between them and the Panthers. Now, they all assumed depth roles on a stacked Panthers team.
No offense to them, but they are the parts of a Cup-winning squad that are the most interchangeable. How many of them do you think will actually be back with Florida next season?
The only player that a half decent argument could be made for the Devils keeping him was Boqvist, as he was still a restricted free agent at the time. The fact that Boston would go on to pass him over as well vindicates Fitzgerald a bit. Vanecek would have been a great backup for the Devils this season but it was clear they needed to clean house in crease after last season’s disappointing results.
Those four weren’t the only former Devils joining the Panthers as Cup winners. Tuomu Ruutu, who joined the Devils at the 2014 trade deadline and played there until 2015-2016, is a Panthers assistant coach. Dmitry Kulikov is now a two-time Cup winner with the Panthers. He spent the first part of the 2020-2021 season in New Jersey but was shipped off at that year’s deadline to the Edmonton Oilers. He also played for Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins before landing back in Florida. He was drafted by the Panthers and originally played there from 2012-2016. Kulikov was a free agent signed by Tom Fitzgerald as a Devils, for those keeping track.
All in all, Devils fans don't have to be regretful for Fitzgerald choosing to move on from these players. Hockey is a business, and it worked out well for GM Bill Zito and the Panthers this season.