A Deal That Moves More Than Just Players
The New Jersey Devils announced a blockbuster five‑player trade that sent forward Ben Steeves to the franchise while dispatching forward Angus Crookshank to Florida. The deal also shuffled Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and goaltender Jacob Markstrom across the league, reshaping the rosters of both clubs ahead of the upcoming season.
Steeves, a restricted free agent who earned AHL All‑Star honors in 2025‑26, spent the previous campaign leading the Charlotte Checkers with 23 goals and 45 points in 72 games. The 24‑year‑old had originally signed with Florida as a free agent on March 25, 2024, and went on to add four goals and four assists in 21 postseason appearances, helping the Checkers reach the Calder Cup Finals.
Crookshank, a four‑time 20‑goal scorer and 2024 AHL All‑Star, arrives in New Jersey after a prolific stretch with the Utica Comets. In 60 games during the 2025‑26 season he posted a team‑leading 24 goals and 346 points, building on a career that includes 101 goals and 84 assists in 262 AHL appearances for Utica and Belleville.
The trade also brings Jacob Markstrom, a veteran net‑minder with extensive NHL experience, to Florida, while the Devils gain a versatile forward in Steeves and the additional assets of Rodrigues and Boqvist. Both organizations highlighted the strategic intent behind the moves, aiming to bolster depth and competitiveness in their respective conferences.