NHL Trade Deadline
Devils Trade for Center ‘100%’ Certain? | Report
According to a recent report, it seems the consensus is that the Devils are guaranteed to trade for a center.
Fans of the New Jersey Devils are certainly antsy for change at this point. Fear not, however. According to a recent report, a Devils trade is believed to be guaranteed. It’s just a matter of when, not if, and we’re one week away from deadline day.
The Devils have been a mixed bag of results for the better part of two months now. The consensus is that their forward group is an incomplete one, after the primary focus of general manager Tom Fitzgerald‘s offseason was on the blueline and in goal.
As a result, the Devils have struggled to put the puck in the net. Two things have become clear. New Jersey needs a top-six winger and a bottom-six center.
According to Elliotte Friedman in his latest 32 Thoughts Blog, the belief is that at least one of those needs is guaranteed to be addressed.
“The one team everyone believes will absolutely 100-per-cent trade for a centre? New Jersey,” Friedman wrote on Thursday night.
It should come as no surprise. The Devils haven’t had to work with haste, given they’re still a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division. Their cushion has shrunk in recent days. Yet, we’re nearly at the deadline and are coming to a conclusion. Here are some names the Devils may be in play for.
Jake Evans
The Devils have been linked to Evans for a while at this point. Fitzgerald made his interest known in Evans early on. He’s a solid third-line center option who is strong defensively and can contribute on offense.
He’s on his way to a career-year with 11 goals and 27 points in 58 games thus far.
Evans is on an expiring $1.7 million contract, and the Montreal Canadiens have made it known they won’t just give him.
READ MORE: Canadiens Driving Hard Bargain on Devils Trade Target | Report
One of the obstacles the Devils face in acquiring Evans is that the Habs prefer to extend the center. However, both sides are far apart in negotiations, and he’s more likely to be traded than not.
Ryan Donato
Ryan Donato is having a career year with the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s another center, like Evans, who the Devils have made Chicago aware of their interest in the player.
Donato has already reached career-year numbers, scoring 19 goals and 40 points in 57 games, playing in an elevated role for the Blackhawks.
On the Devils, he’d play in a depth role, as opposed to his spot up on the top line with Connor Bedard in Chicago. Regardless, Donato is the depth scoring punch New Jersey lacks, plus he brings a decent physical presence for an undersized forward.
Donato is in the final year of a two-year contract that carries a $2 million AAV.
Brock Nelson
Only Lou Lamoriello knows what he’s going to do. However, the New York Islanders have been sinking of late, despite winning their last game.
Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely, and the Isles GM pieced together his blueline with paper clips and glue amid injuries.
They’re an unlikely candidate to make the playoffs, despite the continued vow of confidence from their GM.
Brock Nelson would be a luxury add down the middle. He has top-six prowess and is a bona fide goalscorer in the NHL. He’s also a pest in all three zones in pursuit of the puck.
If Lamoriello actually deals Nelson, he come at a premium, and there will be teams lined up at Lamoriello’s door in pursuit. Still, Nelson would give the Devils a big boost. He’s the scoring forward they lack, and can be used on the second or third line, perhaps even shifting Jack Hughes to the wing.
Nelson’s expiring contract has a $6 million cap hit.
Scott Laughton
This is a new one. There have been whispers that the Philadelphia Flyers will move Scott Laughton, and there’s a belief that the Devils have inquired on the 30-year-old center.
Laughton is a feisty forward who possesses a solid two-way game. He can pot a couple of goals and kill penalties, while also giving the opposition a headache along the boards.
The Flyers are still rebuilding, however, Fitzgerald faces an in-division cost acquisition tax on the 30-year-old center. However, the juice would be worth the squeeze as a surefire upgrade over Erik Haula.
Laughton is on an expiring $3 million contract.
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