The Devils Acquire Matt D’Agostini

Jeff Angus

2013-03-23

 

Matt D'Agostini USA Today

 

Fantasy Impact: The St. Louis Blues have traded winger Matt D'Agostini to New Jersey in exchange for a conditional draft pick.

 

The Devils get: a speedy and responsible winger who can score goals in bunches. D'Agostini scored 21 goals with the Blues back in 2010-11, but he has found it tough to stay in the lineup over the past two seasons. He had only one goal and one assist in 16 games with the Blues before the trade.

 

The Blues get: A draft pick, conditional on D'Agostini re-signing with New Jersey (if he does, the Blues get a fourth, and if not, a fifth). They made this move to free up a roster spot for Jake Allen – for now, they are going to roll with three goaltenders.

 

Fantasy Players Impacted: this is obviously a great move for D'Agostini, who has been on the outside looking in with the Blues in 2013.

 

After playing 82 games in 2010-11, he appeared in 55 games last season, scoring nine goals and 18 points.

 

In this lockout-delayed season, with additions like rookies Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz, D'Agostini's role diminished.

 

"It's necessary, obviously, with the roster situation," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "But it also gives a young guy like Matt D'Agostini a chance to play. I think Doug (Armstrong) did him a real favor and also allowed us to continue to play guys like Jaden and Vladie on a more regular basis."

 

D'Agostini was averaging only 58 seconds of power play ice time each game in 2013, a step below the 1:39 per game he got back in 2010-11. Another reason for the decline in offense – linemate quality.

 

2010-11:

 

Frequency

Strength

Line Combination

14.31%

EV

42 BACKES,DAVID – 36 D’AGOSTINI,MATT – 10 MCDONALD,ANDY

11.58%

EV

42 BACKES,DAVID – 36 D’AGOSTINI,MATT – 17 SOBOTKA,VLADIMIR

 

📢 advertisement:

And 2013:

 

Frequency

Strength

Line Combination

29.76%

EV

36 D’AGOSTINI,MATT – 32 PORTER,CHRIS – 17 SOBOTKA,VLADIMIR

 

He has some familiarity with the Devils, which should help:

 

Devils assistant coach Dave Barr coached D’Aogostini in junior hockey.

 

“From the way they (the Devils) play, I think it’s pretty similar. They’re a forechecking kind of team, which is what St. Louis,” D’Agostini said. “They just want me to use my speed and create chaos on the forecheck.”

 

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:


1. D'Agostini

2. Chris Porter

3. Jaden Schwartz

 

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:


1. Steve Bernier

2. Alexei Ponikarovsky

3. Any Devils forward prospect

Leave A Comment

UPCOMING GAMES

Nov 07 - 19:11 NYR vs BUF
Nov 07 - 19:11 CAR vs PIT
Nov 07 - 19:11 OTT vs NYI
Nov 07 - 19:11 FLA vs NSH
Nov 07 - 19:11 BOS vs CGY
Nov 07 - 19:11 N.J vs MTL
Nov 07 - 19:11 T.B vs PHI
Nov 07 - 20:11 DAL vs CHI
Nov 07 - 20:11 STL vs UTA
Nov 07 - 20:11 WPG vs COL
Nov 07 - 22:11 L.A vs VAN
Nov 07 - 22:11 S.J vs MIN

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
TIMOTHY LILJEGREN S.J
PAVEL DOROFEYEV VGK
ALIAKSEI PROTAS WSH
CONNOR MCMICHAEL WSH
WYATT JOHNSTON DAL

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
CAM TALBOT DET
LOGAN THOMPSON WSH
PETR MRAZEK CHI
ALEXANDAR GEORGIEV COL
STUART SKINNER EDM

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency BUF Players
20.8 BECK MALENSTYN SAM LAFFERTY PEYTON KREBS
20.7 JASON ZUCKER RYAN MCLEOD JORDAN GREENWAY
14.6 ALEX TUCH TAGE THOMPSON JJ PETERKA

DobberHockey Podcasts

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

📢 advertisement: