For the first time in at least five years, the Devils are in a position to be major buyers at the trade deadline. While there are still 31 shopping days left until the trade deadline, movement has begun with the Islanders trade earlier this week to acquire Vancouver captain Bo Horvat in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a protected first round pick. With one of the Devils rumored targets now off the board, the focus now appears to be directly on Sharks winger Timo Meier, whose combination of size and scoring touch make him the ideal top 6 winger the Devils have thirsted for in the rebuild. Despite earlier reports that the price for Meier would be even less than that which was needed for the Senators to pry Alex DeBrincat from the Blackhawks last Summer, the amount of competition for Meier and his singular talent should bring back a significant haul for the Sharks.
The Devils are in the enviable position of having one of the top three prospect pools in the NHL including a glut of talented defensemen and several young NHL players that will be attractive to other teams. Part one of the rebuild is complete, assets have been stockpiled through the draft and shrewd signings. The team as ascended up the standings and is in position to crack open their title window and keep it open for years to come. It is time to enter part two, capitalizing on the assets to add the missing pieces for a playoff run.
UNTOUCHABLES
There is a saying that everyone has a price and while true, there is no conceivable benefit to the Devils in trading Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Dougie Hamilton, or Vitek Vanecek.
Jack Hughes (21) enters the All Star break coming off a 13 goals in 13 games month of January and was just named the NHL First Star for January . Hughes is currently in the running (Top 3?) for the Hart Memorial Trophy and leads the NHL in even strength goals (27). He is perhaps the game's best under 23 player and is signed at a below market rate contract for the next seven years.
Nico Hischier (24) is also having a career season (21 G 25 A) and is also signed to a long term, team-friendly contract. Like Hughes, Nico was a first overall draft pick and has lived up to the hype. Hischier is the team's Captain and potentially a Selke Trophy winner in the near future. Look for Hischier to anchor the Devils top line for the next decade.
Luke Hughes (19) Jack's younger brother and the 4th Overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Luke is currently playing his second season at Michigan where he is coming of a four goal performance. He recently captained the US team at the World Junior Championships and is ranked by The Athletic's Corey Pronman as the 14th best under 23 player and in a tier of future All Star caliber players. It is a safe bet that Hughes, who is set to join the team in April, is not available.
Simon Nemec (18) the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, and first defenseman selected, is equally untouchable due to his prototypical size, above average hockey sense and skill. Like Luke Hughes, Nemec was selected as the Captain of his country's World Junior team this year, and has played with a maturity beyond his years. Nemec fills a position of need, at a reasonable cost, for years to come and is not easily replaced. Sending him in a trade this early in his career is, at best, unlikely but of the six players listed here the only one where a possibility exists of being moved.
Dougie Hamilton (29) was sought out by the Devils in Free Agency in the Summer of 2021 to provide exactly what he has this season, offense. Hamilton has shown to be one of the premier offensive defensemen in the league with a knack for scoring timely goals. You don't sign someone of Hamilton's caliber just to trade him in his prime when he is producing.
Vitek Vanecek (27) has been a revelation this season. The Devils traded for and then extended "The Vitek" at a team-friendly rate through the 24-25 season. After last year's disastrous group performance in goal left the team more than 25 points out of a playoff position Fitzgerald made upgrading a priority and chose wisely in Vanecek. Vitek entered the year never having played more than 42 games in his young career and with essentially league average stats including a .908 save percentage. He has stabilized the position and given the Devils a chance to win almost every game he has played and played well above his averages posting a .917 save percentage thus far. Vanecek is going nowhere
CURRENT ROSTER ASSETS
Unlikely to be moved - While anything is possible, it would be a surprise to see the Devils move Ondrej Palat, Nathan Bastian, Michael McLeod, Jonas Siegenthaler, John Marino, or Brendan Smith. Each of these players have either term beyond this season at a team-friendly rate or are restricted free agents and do not appear to be slated to be moved unless another team's valuation of one of the players makes saying no difficult.
Make me an offer I can't refuse - As Don Vito Corleone told Johnny Fontaine, sometimes a situation warrants making an offer they can't refuse. To part with Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, or Alex Holtz, the Devils will need to presented with an offer they can't refuse.
Jesper Bratt is exceeding expectations for now the second year in a row after signing a one-year "prove it" deal this past Summer to avoid an arbitration hearing. The parties agreed to a one year 5.45 million dollar contract putting off the potential of a long-term deal for a year. The only way moving a player like Bratt, who some deem the best player in the NHL, would be if Fitzgerald is convinced that he cannot sign him long term. If Fitzgerald could bring in a star-caliber, top six winger with term it could diminish Bratt's bargaining power and make him expendable. It is extremely unlikely that Bratt gets moved, the organization views him as a crown jewel of the scouting and development system having risen from unheralded sixth round draftee to a point per game winger and fan favorite. Could you see the Devils acquire someone like Meier with other assets then dangle Bratt to bring in a more affordable top six winger with term and similar production to avoid another arbitration standoff? Anything is possible.
Dawson Mercer is coveted by teams throughout the league and would likely be one of the first players requested by teams in exchange for a top six forward. Mercer is 21 years old, and has another year remaining on his ELC. Since bursting on the scene last season, Mercer hasn't missed a game. He has spent time on all four lines, penalty kill, and power play units, and at both Center and Wing. His versatility, toughness around the net, speed, and hockey sense make him the type of forward any team wants to build around. In 131 NHL games Mercer has 71 points and would likely increase that amount should he get shifts on PP1 and in the top six. Including Mercer in a deal would be a tough pill to swallow for Fitzgerald as other than Hughes and Hischier he would be the most difficult to replace.
Alexander Holtz had a great training camp and expected to have this be the year the 2020 first round pick (7th overall) demonstrated why he was coveted on draft day. Thus far for Holtz the year has been a disappointment. After scoring the team's first goal of the season against Philadelphia, Holtz struggled to get his footing and became a healthy scratch during the team's record-setting November win streak ultimately ending with a demotion to Utica. Since returning to the NHL Holtz has shown improvement in his skating and board play but Lindy Ruff has chosen to largely scratch Holtz again throughout January. Is he at the point now where both sides need a new start? Not yet. Holtz is only 21 and dominated the AHL while showing off an above average shot at the NHL level. The Devils are not ready to give up on Holtz and likely would only trade him for a premium top six player as he is, by leaps and bounds, the best forward prospect in their system and it is unlikely that they will be picking in the top 10 for the foreseeable future.
Young and valued/low cost/high reward the Devils roster has several players who are not on expensive deals and provide value and potentially could be excellent either in Newark or elsewhere with the right opportunities.
Fabian Zetterlund has become a crowd pleaser with his heavy playing style and heavier shot. Zetterlund did not arrive in New Jersey with as much acclaim as friend and fellow Swede Alex Holtz but in some ways he is a better fit with his size, speed, and shot. Zetterlund has played and contributed on lines 1-4 and has demonstrated that he belongs in the NHL. Like Holtz, Zetterlund has been a healthy scratch for much of 2023 but Ruff went out of his way to praise Zetterlund's work ethic and attitude while he was out. His skillset and age would certainly be attractive to other teams and be sought by teams who are not in full tear down mode but want players that they can plug into their lineups immediately.
Yegor Sharangovich is a fan-favorite enigma. As seen in his turn as Santagovich his humor and smile are infectious and he is a known prankster in the locker room. Like last season Yegor has struggled to find his footing in the first half of the season but has a knack for scoring big goals and has netted 11 so far this season including two game winning goals. Sharangovich presents a blend of size, skating, and one of the top three shots on the team. Like Mercer he has an ability to play on both special teams and all three positions though he seems to have settled at left wing. This season he leads the team in short handed goals (2) and points (3). He has not received much time on the power play though he is certainly capable in that role. Sharangovich has been a victim all year of filling in throughout the lineup to make up for injuries and other issues and his ice time has suffered but as shown las week in Nashville when paired with Hughes he finds ways to score. Finding forwards with his combination of size (6'2"), and the skill to kill penalties and score 25-30 goals by age 24 is not easy and should he go in a trade the Devils will have difficulty replacing him.
Jesper Boqvist has made his mark this season as a forechecker with speed to score off the rush and a responsible forward in his own zone. It's not certain yet whether Boqvist has the consistency or plus skills to escape the bottom six. Thus far with eight points in 41 games he has not shown that he is irreplaceable and could be a welcome addition to a team looking to build quality forward depth with a player that won't hurt you and flashes ability at 24. If a team requires a NHL ready young player, Boqvist should be someone the Devils could offer.
Kevin Bahl/Nikita Okhotiuk have both demonstrated that they have the skills to be, at worst, third pair defensemen in the NHL. Both, while inconsistent, have shown the ability to play solidly at a NHL level. Bahl brings massive size and a willingness to hit along the boards but has had issues with positional integrity and skating which is not unexpected for a player at his size. Both defensemen are former second round picks who bring strong defense and toughness in their games. Like any 22 year old defenseman each has to work on playing at this level but with the glut of defensive depth in the Devils system either Bahl or Okhotiuk could be attractive pieces for teams looking to bolster their blue lines with young, tough defenders with upside and not leave the Devils cupboard bare if moved.
Mackenzie Blackwood is the most debated Devils player not named Damon Severson. Blackwood emerged in the NHL with two season that had fans daring to whisper "Brodeur" when describing the goaltender. There was talk at the start of the 21-22 season that Blackwood was in line for the Canadian Olympic Team and possibly as the starter. Unfortunately for Blackwood the last season and a half have not gone as planned and through a combination of injuries to his heel, ankle, and knee, he has come crashing down to earth and now finds himself as the clear 1B in the goalie tandem. Since returning from a MCL injury he has again shown flashes of the goalie the Devils thought they had but through a mixture of poor defense in front of him and failing to make timely saves Blackwood has not regained the form he showed in his early years. There have also been rumors of acrimony between Blackwood and the Devils front office stemming from Covid regulations and other injury related issues. Blackwood is a restricted free agent at the end of the season and with the emergence of Akira Schmid and Nico Daws as well as Tyler Brennan on the horizon perhaps a change of scenery would do both sides well. Any trade including Blackwood would likely require a veteran goalie in return who could split the work with Vanecek and help the team through the playoffs. It may be wiser to hold on to Blackwood through the season then move him.
UFA
The team will have to make decisions on six players who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. In past years when sellers, the Devils would flip these players to contenders often in exchange for draft capital. These trades have enabled the team to build a top five prospect pool and is the main reason they have entered their window of contention. Over the next 30 days Fitzgerald will have to grapple with whether he is willing to let some of these players walk at the end of the season without any compensation in order to have them for a playoff run. The other issue is each has a cap charge that may be needed if the Devils are going to take on an asset this year.
Damon Severson - is the longest tenured Devils player yet plays a position of strength as a right-handed shot defenseman. Severson demonstrated his value last season when Hamilton went down and he thrived with the extra playing time totaling a career high 46 points despite the team's power play struggles. Severson has also thrived this season as his minutes have grown, playing his best hockey over the past thirty days including a memorable overtime, game winner against the Devils. Though Severson is reportedly sought-after by several teams, and will likely cash in during free agency, it is unlikely that with the status of Marino up in the air, that the Devils would move Severson. Additionally, Fitzgerald would have to think what message trading his longest tenured player would send. Severson has been a stand up player throughout the doldrums of the last five seasons. The Devils could have sold high on Severson last offseason when he was coming off a career-year and offered him to a contender for two runs. They instead chose to hold him and he has rewarded their faith. Todd Cordell wrote of Severson, "He is arguably the best stretch passer on the team, he currently leads the defense in xG (57.18%), owns a positive goal differential at 5v5, and his penalty killing metrics are quite good." There is no justification for moving Severson at this point, he has been their best two way defenseman since mid-December and he is insurance in case of an injury to any of the other right side defensemen. While unlikely to return next year due to the depth behind him, he has earned the right to play for this team in the playoffs.
Ryan Graves has been one of the best shutdown defenders on the team and is essential to dropping their goals against average almost a full goal in a year. Graves is a player that the Devils may opt to re-sign before his contract expires. Unless Bahl or Okhotiuk demonstrate they are ready for top four minutes there really is no justification to move Graves from a playoff team. The likely replacement in the system for Graves is Luke Hughes but there is no telling how adroitly Hughes will be able to integrate himself into the lineup coming from NCAA hockey. The better bet for Fitzgerald is to hold onto Graves, see how far away Hughes seems after he joins the team and then decide in the offseason whether to extend Graves or move forward without the rangy defender.
Tomas Tatar is a truly difficult decision. He leads the team in plus/minus and his advanced stats have improved significantly since a down year last season. Tatar has contributed throughout the top nine and showed energy and an ability to create scoring opportunities. The only reason the Devils would look to trade Tatar is his cap charge of 4.5 million this season would allow them to offset any contract they take on. The reason to be hesitant on Tatar is the intangibles he brings to the locker room. He is well respected by his peers, is one of the few guys over 30 and has playoff experience. Giving up Tatar may be necessary but Fitzgerald likely only does it to gain a major asset and without any other options
Erik Haula has been a valuable player for the Devils despite his well noted difficulties finding the back of the net while getting top six minutes. Haula has provided the Devils with grit and valuable puck possession as his faceoff winning percentage has climbed above 55%. If the Devils are able to acquire another top six forward and can shift Haula down to the third line his gritty play and speed will be more evident and appreciated. Haula, like Tatar brings experience and was sought after specifically because of that experience. Difficult to see him being traded, especially since he is apparently a favorite linemate of Hughes.
Miles Wood trails only Severson in tenure as a Devil. Wood is unquestionably a fan favorite with his Tasmanian Devil like play. Early in the season his goal scoring made the BMW line into one of the most formidable fourth lines in the league and allowed Ruff to roll all four lines without concern for scoring droughts. Once Bastian was injured that all changed and Wood had difficulty finding a productive role and endured a month-long scoring drought. He also battled back quickly from a head injury and an ankle injury that may have limited some of his effectiveness. Now that Bastian has returned there are signs of the BMW line starting to rev it's engines again. While Wood would certainly have value on the open market and his 3.2 million dollar cap charge would be attractive to offset an incoming contract, Fitzgerald is likely loathe to move him absent a compelling offer. It is unlikely that the Devils can bring Wood back at the price they are currently paying and like Severson, he has a presence in the room and a history with the team and fans and likely deserves an opportunity to take the ice in the playoffs alongside Bastian and McLeod.
Andreas Johnsson may end up being the key to the Devils success this season. Other than a brief cup of coffee in the NHL this year, Johnsson has toiled in the AHL after twice clearing waivers. Adding Johnsson's 3.4 million dollar salary in any deal will provide the cap offset needed to improve the team. Trading Johnsson will likely require the addition of a mid-round pick but with what the Devils have stockpiled that should not be a hindrance.
FUTURES
The Devils are fortunate to have a plethora of assets spread throughout the lower levels of hockey from the NCAA to the KHL. Obviously trying to project many of these players, especially at this stage of their careers, is a crapshoot and placing value simply based on draft position is a fool's errand. (see Bratt, Sharangovich, etc) Because of the solid depth in the organization, the Devils would be smart to try to utilize these future players and draft picks in making a trade as they can likely absorb the loss without it impacting the NHL club.
Utica - The AHL affiliate of the Devils has a group of NHL ready players that may be attractive to other teams. While none of this group likely qualify as an "A" grade prospect there are future NHLers present. Any discussion about Utica likely starts with Nolan Foote. Foote possesses prototypical NHL size and plays heavy but skilled like his brother Cal who plays for Tampa. Nolan may not have the speed to play the Devils style but has shown in call ups that he could be a useful player for other organizations. Utica also boasts forwards Tyce Thompson and Graeme Clarke who have both shown ability in training camp and the AHL. Thompson has played some with the Devils this season and the hope is he blossoms into a player similar to his brother Tage who is currently in the running for several post-season awards with the Sabres. Clarke has paced the Comets in scoring and is likely to receive a call up should the Devils need to infuse scoring in the second half.
On defense the Devils have former first-rounder Reilly Walsh who seems to have regressed in the minds of some scouts as he was in the running to make the team in 21-22 and now is treated as an afterthought. At 23 it might be time for the Devils to move on and find a suitor who may still value his potential. Michael Vukojevic is also a prospect who has drawn interest in his young age and could be part of a package. Goalies Akira Schmid and Nico Daws are both highly regarded throughout hockey and could serve as important trade chips should the Devils seek to add a more proven goaltender. Schmid has had more recent NHL success while Daws played well in stretches last season in the NHL and was chosen to represent the Comets in this season's AHL All Star Game. Both are highly-touted and young and could be leveraged to help the present.
Juniors - The Devils have several players in Juniors who could bring a return. Most notably right now are Josh Filmon, a sixth round pick in 22 who is exploding offensively for the Swift Current Broncos, former first rounder Chase Stillman who, at 19 may not have climbed the ladder as quickly as hoped, but possesses NHL size and tools. Tyler Brennan was considered by some to be the top North American goaltender in this year's draft. With Schmid and Daws ahead of him, Brennan may be an asset that could bring Fitzgerald a nice return.
NCAA - The Devils have several players competing in the NCAA beyond Luke Hughes that are poised to contribute soon and would make attractive trade chips. Michigan defensemen Seamus Casey has had a breakout freshman season in Ann Arbor and could join Hughes in the NHL in a year or two, making him an attractive piece to move considering he is blocked by Hamilton, Marino, and Nemec on the right and Siegenthaler and Hughes on the left. His stature is somewhat concerning for a NHL caliber defenseman but he has put up 19 points in 26 games already. Other NCAA players that will draw interest are Ethan Edwards and Samu Salminen who is having a very productive season for UConn.
Internationals - The Devils international prospects are highlighted by former first round pick, defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and forward Artseni Gritsyuk. Both are currently playing in the KHL and having successful seasons as seen in various Youtube clips on an almost daily basis. Mukhamadullin has said he plans to come to play in North America once his season has completed, while Gritsyuk has signaled that he will stay in the KHL for another year at least. Both players should be able to bring back a significant return in a trade. Corey Pronman has Mukhamadullin rated ahead of Alex Holtz in his latest top 100 players under 23. Nemec and Hughes make Mukhamadullin potentially a significant trade chip and while his value is rumored to be in dispute depending on which clubs you speak with, he could arguably be the centerpiece of a trade for a player like a Timo Meier or Brock Boeser. Gritsyuk also has tremendous skill as a sniper and has the potential to also bring back value but the uncertainty around when he plans to come to the NHL diminishes his value for a team looking to improve sooner rather than later. The final international who is a potential trade asset is defenseman Topias Vilen. Besides having a name tailor made for a defenseman he has gained notice playing in the top Finnish league at only 19 years old. Look for Vilen to come back to North America soon and with the Devils depth at defense he could also be moved as part of a package for a top six winger.
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