New Jersey Devils
NHL Trade Rumors: Reportedly Available Brock Boeser is the Shooter Devils Need
Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser is reportedly available on the NHL trade market, and he’s the shooter the New Jersey Devils need.

What exactly is the plan for the Vancouver Canucks? The toiling ‘Nucks are already in the NHL trade market, fielding offers on two of their star players. Now, it’s being reported that Brock Boeser could be available as well. If the Canucks are selling, the New Jersey Devils should be buying. Boeser’s just the shooter that they need.
READ MORE: Devils GM ‘Open-Minded’ on NHL Trade Market
Cam Robinson of EliteProspects tweets, “Sources indicate that many teams expect Brock Boeser to be available at the deadline barring a serious Canucks turnaround. If he does stay through this season, he’ll likely be available on July 1, and a healthy group will be vying for his services on a long-term deal–something the Canucks appear wary of doing at this time.”
Then, a recent interview with the Globe & Mail not only suggested the idea of moving on from Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. But, it hinted at the potential idea of tearing it down and rebuilding.
Don’t get too excited about the idea of Quinn Hughes, yet. Until there’s reason to believe the Canucks would part with the first of three Hughes brothers, it’s safe to assume he’s not going anywhere.
However, the vultures are certainly circling on other expiring assets, and general manager Tom Fitzgerald should be involved.
Wednesday night aside, goals have been hard to come by in New Jersey. On Monday, the Devils fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in regulation. It took them nearly 40 minutes to pot their first goal while down three goals, and couldn’t net their second until the final moments of the third period.
That sort of thing has been far too common recently for the level of talent on New Jersey’s roster.
The Devils have all the skill in the world. However, it’s become more and more evident that they lack players with shoot-first mentalities. Timo Meier is certainly one candidate possesses the quality. However, he’s alone in that regard, and hasn’t necessarily been put in the position to unleash that skill in his tool belt. Instead, head coach Sheldon Keefe has relied on Meier to be a play driver and net front presence, which he also does well.
That’s the cost of being a Swiss-Army knife.
However, although Boeser isn’t a one-trick pony, it’s clear that his greatest strength is his ability to shoot the puck.
The Devils—who are in need of scoring—should be all over an NHL trade involving the Canucks and Boeser.
Although Fitzgerald has denied any talks with Canucks GM Patrick Allvin, the Devils are continually linked to Miller.
The 31-year-old forward would be a fit on the Devils’ roster. However, the Devils’ first and second line center roles are filled by Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.
The Devils are more in the market for a third-line center, yet remain with a need for a complimentary top-six scorer, making Boeser the better fit of the available Canucks.
Last season, Boeser potted 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games. This season, he’s registered 16 goals in 42 games and is on his way to a 30-goal season. Currently, Boeser is matching his shooting percentage from 2023-24 (19.6%), in 2024-25 (19.5%).
Whereas the Devils need to score more goals overall, one facet of their game that has been lacking is their power play. In their last five games, the Devils have scored three power play goals. At first glance, that seems like a good thing. However, they all came in one tilt against the Boston Bruins who have been experiencing their own issues this season.
The Devils could use a shooter on the first unit. Someone who can set up in the left circle to just sit and wait for one of Hughes or Jesper Bratt to feed him the puck to rip shots on goal.
What should come as a result are either goals, or rebounds for secondary scoring chances.
The right-shot sniper is in the final year of his contract. He comes with a $6.65 million cap hit and is due for a raise this summer. The 27, turning 28-year-old in February, fits in with the core of the Devils’ roster, and with the cap rising, the Devils may be able to afford to keep him around.
No one on the Devils’ roster has replicated the goal-scoring production that was left by Tyler Toffoli last season.
Boeser is certainly the player to step in and fill his shoes. New Jersey has shown interest in Boeser before, and they should be again.
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