Trade Overview
On June 29, 2024, an intriguing trade unfolded in the NHL when the New Jersey Devils acquired Paul Cotter from the Vegas Golden Knights, along with a 3rd-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. In return, the Golden Knights received promising forward Alexander Holtz and goaltender Akira Schmid.
Performance Analysis
Fast forward a season and a half, and now is an opportune moment to analyze how this trade has played out for both teams.
New Jersey Devils
The primary asset that the Devils brought in, Cotter, has had a mixed staying with the team, competing in 149 games over the previous two seasons. He accumulated a total of 32 points, breaking down to 21 goals and 11 assists. Notably, his tenure with the Devils seems to be a challenging one, especially when compared to his prior performance peak with the Golden Knights during the 2023-24 season.
Part of the package deal for the Devils was a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, which they ultimately used to select Mason Moe, a center measuring 6’1” who was picked 90th overall. Presently, Moe is honing his skills with the Madison Capitols in the USHL, and while it’s a promising start, it’s premature to assess the full impact of this selection.
Vegas Golden Knights
On the flip side, the Golden Knights have seen significant return from both players they acquired. Schmid, who is just 25 years old, has emerged as a formidable force in goal. He has partaken in 25 games, notching 13 wins, and notably recording a stunning .944 save percentage in his rookie season, although his numbers dipped slightly to .895 this season. Schmid’s increased role this year, with 17 starts compared to a mere three from the previous season, illustrates his growing importance to the team’s fortunes.
Holtz, meanwhile, has played 65 games for the Golden Knights since the trade, contributing 14 points with five goals and nine assists. However, his current season has seen him participating in only 12 games, raising questions about his impact in Vegas compared to Cotter’s output for the Devils.
Conclusion
In retrospect, by the hard numbers, Cotter has shown greater production than Holtz thus far. Nevertheless, Schmid’s emergence as a robust goaltender adds depth to the Golden Knights’ side of the deal. As for Mason Moe, it remains to be seen how he will transition to the NHL level, making any comprehensive evaluation of that aspect premature at this stage.
