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

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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