New Jersey Devils
One Reason We Know a Devils Trade is Coming That No One is Talking About
Many are wondering when general manager Tom Fitzgerald will strike on the market. There’s one reason we know a Devils trade is coming.

Patience is wearing thin in Newark, New Jersey as a result of the recent play of the New Jersey Devils. Ever since returning from the holiday break, the Devils have been middling, a surprising development given how hot they were going into Christmas. Many are clamoring for a Devils trade in order to help the roster get back on track. Although they might not be happening at the pace many are hoping for, there’s one obvious reason that indicates at least one coming.
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In their last 10 games, the Devils are 4-4-2. They continue to show signs of their pre-break selves, routing teams like the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers to dominant victories. However, they’re also showing inconsistencies, such as falling behind three goals in the first period to the last place Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. They dug themselves a hole that proved to be too deep to climb out of, losing to their former head coach for the first time.
In front of them, the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes aren’t far from reach. The Devils could have made up some ground with a few losses for each team in their last few games. Instead, the Devils left points on the table Sunday afternoon.
Couple that with the fact that the Islanders have made three impact adds in Tony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich, and Adam Boqvist in the wake of their own injuries. It only adds to the suspicion when it will be the Devils turn.
Yet, there are a handful of reasons to believe a Devils trade or two is coming.
One obvious reason is the Devils’ lack of depth scoring.
To no fault of the player, having Justin Dowling as a regular third-line center has proven to be hindering. He’s doing what he can in the absence of the injured Erik Haula. However, when the Finnish forward returns, it’s not like he was exactly lighting up the scoresheet either.
The bottom six could use a boost, and general manager Tom Fitzgerald has already expressed his desire for a third line center via Devils trade.
However, that’s not the reason we’re talking about here.
We lightly mentioned the injuries. Haula, Nico Hischier, and Jacob Markstrom are three key players the Devils are missing in their lineup.
The good news is they’re all labeled with injuries that will only be a matter of weeks. In fact, Haula traveled with the Devils, and his return could be imminent.
Yet, the injuries themselves aren’t the reason no one is talking about, either.
Instead, it’s how the Devils’ GM has managed his roster, leaving said injured players off the long-term injured reserve (LTIR).
All the injured Devils players on the shelf qualify to be put on LTIR. However, Fitzgerald hasn’t used any of his LTIR slots, and it’s for one reason only.
When players are placed on LTIR, NHL teams cannot accrue money toward their salary cap. With each passing day, the Devils are earning more cap space for trade by sacrificing a roster spot and keeping injured players off LTIR.
In other words, Fitzgerald is ensuring he has as many dollars as possible at his disposal to make an acquisition or two by March 7th, if not before.
Barring further injuries, the strategy is working with 23/23 players on the roster. One more injury can change all of that. The Devils would then need to move a player to the injured reserve to open up a roster spot, but they’re certainly hoping that won’t happen.
The Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a five-point cushion on the Blue Jackets. Certainly, they were in a more comfortable spot at the beginning of January, but now they’re just trying to make it to the 4 Nations break.
There’s a chance a Devils trade transpires before the world tournament.
However, it could wait until after when Fitzgerald can assess who is back and healthy, and exactly where the roster needs the most reinforcement through a Devils trade.
New Jersey is still a playoff team. Their chances at making the playoffs are north of 90%. Yes, their recent run is frustrating. However, a desperate GM gets squeezed in times of need, thus Fitzgerald’s patience.
Fitzgerald has been one of the most active GMs at the last two NHL trade deadlines. He will be again in 2025.
Devils trades are coming. It’s just a matter of when, not if.
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