NEWARK -- When the Devils traded for Mirco Mueller just before the roster freeze for the NHL Las Vegas Expansion Draft, they obtained a young defenseman that fits the mold of the players they want in the organization.

The Devils acquired Mueller and a 2017 fifth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks moments before the 3 p.m. deadline on June 17. The Devils sent a second- and fourth-round pick to the Sharks.

"Mirco is adding another piece to what we're trying to build here," Devils coach John Hynes said. "He's a young player, he can play with pace. He's a very good skater. He's got size, which is something we need on the back end. He makes a good first pass. He allows you to get out of your own zone because he can break out, he can end plays defensively, get possession, make the pass to be able to transition yourself out of defensive situations."

Mueller was one of the Sharks' top blue-line prospects before falling down the depth chart over the past two seasons. He made his NHL debut at 19 years old in 2014-15, but he played in just four NHL games in 2016-17 while spending most of his time in the AHL.

Mueller finished with 20 points in 62 AHL games last season, while adding one goal and one assist in four NHL games.

But Hynes sees Mueller as a player capable of pushing the offense from the other end of the ice, by ending plays and helping get the puck out of the defensive zone -- something the Devils struggled with in 2016-17.

"It's a big part when you look at different defensemen, some guys help provide offense maybe in the rush or on the offensive blue line," Hynes said. "But Mirco is a guy that he starts your transition. He's a good first-pass defenseman, which is really important to help set up your territory and offensive game."

The Devils protected Mueller from Las Vegas in the Expansion Draft, and the trade that brought him to New Jersey allowed the Sharks to gain two earlier picks while avoiding the risk of exposing their 2013 first-round selection.

Now Hynes views Mueller as another young asset the Devils can try to shape into their long-term plan.

"He's a young guy. He's someone that fits the mold of the direction we want to go in," Hynes said. "The other part of his game that he's pretty solid is because of his skating and size, he has the ability to play against some pretty good players. We'll look to continue to develop him and try to maximize his strengths, but also try to develop him into the player he wants to be and the player we think he can become."

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.