Lazar traded to Devils by Canucks

Curtis Lazar was traded to the New Jersey Devils by the Vancouver Canucks on Friday for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

"They're a young team that is on the rise in such a fashion that it's kind like everyone's like, 'Whoa, these guys are good.' The pace they play at is incredible," Lazar said about the Devils. "They're so creative on the offensive side as well, but also their defensive structure is so solid and that's kind of the area that I'm hoping to help out. Just lock things down in our own end and let those creative guys just go to work, inject some energy here and there, but this team is where they are in the standings for a reason. So, I don't want to mess around too much; just kind of fit in where need be."
Lazar is in the first of a three-year contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 season.
The 28-year-old forward has five points (three goals, two assists) in 45 games this season.
"If you look at a guy like that, real good depth for us," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's a strong player. A guy who can step in the middle, win draws, a right-handed faceoff guy, which can be important. Can play the win. Penalty killer. It just really adds to the depth. Every team will deal with injuries. Right now, we're doing pretty good. It's important that you have players like that who can help you out."
The Devils (40-15-5) are second in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes. They acquired forward Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26.
"He can definitely help us out as well," Devils captain Nico Hischier said about Lazar. "I've played against him a lot. He's a gritty guy. It's not easy to play against him. It's the kind of guy you like to see get add on."
This is the second time in three seasons Lazar has gone from a non-playoff team to a playoff team at the deadline. He was traded by the Buffalo Sabres to the Boston Bruins along with Taylor Hall on April 12, 2021.
"Your mindset kind of switches pretty quickly. I went through this previously with Buffalo going to Boston and it was kind of a similar thing," Lazar said. "But it does wonders just for your overall well-being; there's more pep in your step, you wake up, you're just excited and that's kind of where I'm at now. I can't wait to meet the guys, get used to their systems and whatnot, and then just start playing. I want to win and there's no better place to do so."
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Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (No. 17) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Lazar (6-foot-0, 203 pounds) has 95 points (38 goals, 57 assists) in 449 regular-season games with the Canucks, Bruins, Sabres, Calgary Flames and Senators. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Hopefully I can pick up that system and to keep up with the guys as best as I can," Lazar said. "But there's a time and place, especially when you get in the playoffs. I mean there's momentum swings and physicality is a part of the game. That's something that I pride myself on; I'm not going to chase around for it. I'm not a heavyweight by any means but you just kind of play that hard-nosed style, get in on the forecheck.
"There's an area that they wanted to address and I guess that I was the answer, so I'm going to do my best to fulfill that."
The Canucks (24-32-5) are 19 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.
Vancouver acquired defenseman Filip Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, and traded defenseman Luke Schenn to the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Riley Stillman to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Vancouver also acquired forward Vitali Kravtsov from the New York Rangers on Feb. 25.
NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale and independent correspondent Paul Delos Santos contributed to this report